Roussillon Restaurant
Encyclopedia
Roussillon is a restaurant on 16 St Barnabas Street in the Pimlico
district of London
. It held a Michelin star from 2000 until 2011.
The restaurant's name comes from the village in the Lubéron
rather than the Catalan region
.
The restaurant was named by Chef Alexis Gauthier
after acquiring it in 1997 in partnership with James Palmer and his brother Andrew, who had made their money from the New Covent Garden Soup Company. It had previously been named Marabel's, but new ownership, combined with the confusion of Marco Pierre White's new restaurant Mirabelle's, opening in the same week, prompted the name change.
Roussillon has held its Michelin star since 2000.
The restaurant offers a blend of French cuisine
with British
seasonal vegetables.
Favourite dishes include Blue Bembridge Lobster, Colchester Oysters, wild rabbit from the North Downs and Scottish venison. The herbs and vegetables are freshly picked each morning in Surrey
.
It was the first restaurant to introduce a "garden" menu degustation for vegetarians, which made the news for its 5–course Flower Menu of petals and floral essences coinciding with the Chelsea Flower Show
.
In 2005, Roussillon caused a stir by dropping chicken from the menu because of the bird flu. However, its biggest claim to fame could be that it was the first restaurant ever reviewed by Giles Coren
, back when he was with Tatler
.
Chefs who have worked in the kitchen of Roussillon include Frederic Chabbert of Petrus, Kuala Lumpur
, Chatree Kachornklin of La Table de Tee in Bangkok
, and Alexis Gauthier
. Gauthier is due to launch a new restaurant at Lindsay House with Roberto Della Pietra, the previous head sommelier
at Roussillon. Gauthier will retain his share of ownership in Roussillon.
Roussillon’s residence itself was previously built after World War II
bombing.
Pimlico
Pimlico is a small area of central London in the City of Westminster. Like Belgravia, to which it was built as a southern extension, Pimlico is known for its grand garden squares and impressive Regency architecture....
district of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. It held a Michelin star from 2000 until 2011.
The restaurant's name comes from the village in the Lubéron
Roussillon, Vaucluse
Roussillon is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.Roussillon lies within the borders of the Parc Naturel Régional du Luberon. In the French natural regional parks, new economic activities may be developed only if they are...
rather than the Catalan region
Roussillon
Roussillon is one of the historical counties of the former Principality of Catalonia, corresponding roughly to the present-day southern French département of Pyrénées-Orientales...
.
The restaurant was named by Chef Alexis Gauthier
Alexis Gauthier
Alexis Gauthier, 31 is a French chef who achieved a Michelin star in 2000. He was the former Chef Patron of the Michellin-starred Roussillon in London....
after acquiring it in 1997 in partnership with James Palmer and his brother Andrew, who had made their money from the New Covent Garden Soup Company. It had previously been named Marabel's, but new ownership, combined with the confusion of Marco Pierre White's new restaurant Mirabelle's, opening in the same week, prompted the name change.
Roussillon has held its Michelin star since 2000.
The restaurant offers a blend of French cuisine
French cuisine
French cuisine is a style of food preparation originating from France that has developed from centuries of social change. In the Middle Ages, Guillaume Tirel , a court chef, authored Le Viandier, one of the earliest recipe collections of Medieval France...
with British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
seasonal vegetables.
Favourite dishes include Blue Bembridge Lobster, Colchester Oysters, wild rabbit from the North Downs and Scottish venison. The herbs and vegetables are freshly picked each morning in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
.
It was the first restaurant to introduce a "garden" menu degustation for vegetarians, which made the news for its 5–course Flower Menu of petals and floral essences coinciding with the Chelsea Flower Show
Chelsea Flower Show
The RHS Chelsea Flower Show, formally known as the Great Spring Show, is a garden show held for five days in May by the Royal Horticultural Society in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea in Chelsea, London...
.
In 2005, Roussillon caused a stir by dropping chicken from the menu because of the bird flu. However, its biggest claim to fame could be that it was the first restaurant ever reviewed by Giles Coren
Giles Coren
Giles Coren is a British food critic, television presenter and novelist. He is known for expressing controversial opinions, and for his television appearances with the comedian Sue Perkins.-Personal:...
, back when he was with Tatler
Tatler
Tatler has been the name of several British journals and magazines, each of which has viewed itself as the successor of the original literary and society journal founded by Richard Steele in 1709. The current incarnation, founded in 1901, is a glossy magazine published by Condé Nast Publications...
.
Chefs who have worked in the kitchen of Roussillon include Frederic Chabbert of Petrus, Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
, Chatree Kachornklin of La Table de Tee in Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
, and Alexis Gauthier
Alexis Gauthier
Alexis Gauthier, 31 is a French chef who achieved a Michelin star in 2000. He was the former Chef Patron of the Michellin-starred Roussillon in London....
. Gauthier is due to launch a new restaurant at Lindsay House with Roberto Della Pietra, the previous head sommelier
Sommelier
A sommelier , or wine steward, is a trained and knowledgeable wine professional, commonly working in fine restaurants, who specializes in all aspects of wine service as well as wine and food matching...
at Roussillon. Gauthier will retain his share of ownership in Roussillon.
Roussillon’s residence itself was previously built after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
bombing.