[Updated 30/10/12 with menu details]
This November marks the 35th anniversary since legendary chef Pierre Koffmann opened his La Tante Claire restaurant in London. To celebrate, Pierre's asked ten chefs who earned their stripes (or should that be whites) working for him, to return to his kitchen for a series of very special dinners.
The two evenings at Koffmann's at The Berkeley - La Réunion des Chefs - will see the chefs creating a six course menu, with Koffmann on hand to make his iconic dish as the main course, Pigs trotters with sweetbreads and morels.
The line-up of chefs for the two dinners is as follows and one look at this list should show you just how key Koffmann's influence is on London's chefs and restaurants today. And just look what they're making!
Sunday, 11th November 2012:
Bruno Loubet (Bistrot Bruno Loubet): Garlic soup with slow-poached egg and cepes
Raphael Duntoye (La Petite Maison): Salad of clams, salsify and mushrooms
Eric Chavot (Brasserie Chavot; opening January 2013): Venison carpaccio with pickled red cabbage
Tom Kitchin (The Kitchin): Creel-caught Scottish lobster with escargot butter and squid
Pierre Koffmann: Pig’s trotters with sweetbreads and morels
William Curley (Chocolatier): Amedei chocolate mousse on hazelnut dacquoise with prune and Armagnac
Monday, 12th November 2012:
Paul Rhodes (Rhodes Bakeries): Seared foie gras with Sauternes butter
Eric Chavot (Brasserie Chavot): Venison carpaccio with pickled red cabbage
Tom Aikens (Tom Aikens Restaurant): Roast scallops, black pudding, braised oxtail, parsnip purée
Helena Puolakka (Skylon): Smoked haddock chowder, confit baby leeks and ratte potatoes, shaved white truffle
Pierre Koffmann: Pig’s trotters with sweetbreads and morels
Claude Lamarche (The Arts Club): Trois profiteroles
The six course dinner will include a glass of Champagne and canapés on arrival and will cost £100 per person, or £165 to include matching wines for each course. There are only 100 seats on each night and bookings are being taken now at Koffmann’s by phone 020-7235 1010 or by emailing koffmanns@the-berkeley.co.uk.
The return of Pierre Koffmann - read our interview with Pierre to find out why he returned to London and his opinions of the many chefs who worked under him.
