Updated 15/4/14 with booking details and opening date
It's been on our Coming Soon rumours radar for a while, but today we finally got through the details for Alain Ducasse's new restaurant opening at the Bulgari Hotel in London this summer.
As the man behind one of only four restaurants in the UK with three Michelin stars, a new Ducasse opening is always going to be news. And Ducasse LOVES London. How do we know? Because he's just published a book - J'aime London - saying just that.
The new informal restaurant, which opens in May, will be called RIVEA and will be based on Ducasse's existing restaurant of the same name at Hôtel Byblos in St Tropez. It'll serve a mixture of French and Italian dishes inspired by Mediterranean cuisine. We understand that while the menu will be similar to the one in France, the London RIVEA will feature new dishes too and be adapted to a London audience.
In the kitchen will be Ducasse's protégé Damien Leroux (pictured here) who has worked for Ducasse for 10 years in both Provence and Monaco. "I am delighted to bring RIVEA to such a vibrant culinary scene as London," Ducasse enthused. "The restaurant will encompass the essence of my cuisine, interpreted by my passionate young Chef Damien and inspired by the many artisan producers we have met in the Riviera."
It sounds as if the menu will follow one of the new trends in London to focus attention on vegetables rather than meat. "Damien’s passion for vegetables will shine through in the dishes, where he will focus on the diversity of their flavours and textures." says Ducasse. We've seen one signature dish - Socca et légumes d'une niçoise (that's socca made using the vegetables from a Nicoise salad) which will be a signature dish.
RIVEA will take over the restaurant space at the Bulgari currently occupied by Il Ristorante and, as you'd expect, there is going to be a major redo of the room. That dining room will close on 23 March for a full refurbishment.
RIVEA will open on 12 May 2014 at the Bulgari Hotel & Residences, London at 171 Knightsbridge, London SW7 1DW. Reservations are now open at 0207 151 1025. For more information go to www.rivealondon.com
