After a good couple of years in the planning; Chris and Jeff
Galvin's new French restaurant
La Chapelle is complete and open for business.
Yes Chef! was lucky enough to nab an invite to the launch party,
where the great and good of the food and restaurant industry did
what they do best (eat, drink and schmooze) alongside friends and
family of the brothers.
Chris Galvin had the twinkle of an excitable schoolboy, which was
quite fitting given that the stunning 19th century, grade II listed
St Botolph's Hall site was formerly a girls' school; and some of
the ex head girls also made an appearance to see how the building
in Spital Square has been converted from school to restaurant.
As well as fine dining restaurant La Chapelle (which takes its
name from the
Rhone wine of Hermitage) and some rather breath-taking private
dining up on the mezzanine level (pictured above); the brothers
have created Café de Luxe, a contemporary all-day cafe which
will serve more informal, affordable fare including wood-fired
pizzas; and an interconnecting aperitivo bar, which will serve
light dishes and oysters - some of which we got a taste of at the
launch.
The site is visually arresting - its main fine dining area enclosed
by smooth shining stone arches and the restored, wooden-beamed roof
giving it a majestic grandeur that is softened by the warmth of
glinting chadeliers.
Yes Chef! also managed to get a sneaky-peak at the open kitchen,
which sits in pride of place in the main hall, surrounded by a bar,
and take a closer look at the wood-fired oven which the brothers
have installed, along with an expert Italian wood-fired specialist
chef to create dishes for it.
Nearer the end of the evening, we managed to grab a few minutes
with Chris' wife Sara, who will be the hostess of the restaurant
and was telling YC about how she first met Chris when they were
both working at the Lanesborough hotel. A nicer
culinary family you couldn't hope to meet, and YC wouldn't be
surprised, given the location, family-run set-up and
skilled cooking of Jeff Galvin, who's at the helm in the kitchen,
if the Michelin inspectors don't come a-knocking rather
soon...