London restaurant La Dame de Pic has been promoted from One to Two Michelin Stars in The Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 2020.
So what is it about the cooking at this restaurant that so impressed the Michelin Inspectors? We take a closer look:
Who?
‘La Dame’ in question is Anne-Sophie Pic; famous in her native France as owner-chef of Three-Starred Maison Pic in Valence, which was first opened back in 1889 by her great-grandparents, Eugene and Sophie, and passed down through the family via her grandfather, André, and her father, Jacques.
Anne-Sophie also runs several other restaurants; the most notable being Two-Starred Anne-Sophie Pic in Switzerland and One-Starred La Dame de Pic in Paris.
When?
The renowned chef brought her brand over from Paris to London in 2017, gaining a Star not long after in the 2018 edition of the Michelin Guide Great Britain and Ireland.
Only two years later, La Dame de Pic has now achieved Michelin Two-Star status.
Where?
Anne-Sophie Pic’s London outpost is situated in the impressive Beaux-Arts style Four Seasons Hotel, at Ten Trinity Square, in the City of London.
Styled as a brasserie de luxe, the airy, high-ceilinged space is elegant, spacious and contemporary, with lots of white, plenty of light and some attractive modern art.
Delightful service adds to the experience, with the beautiful columned room run in a charming and wonderfully relaxed manner by staff who are not only super-efficient, but who also manage to strike the perfect balance between friendliness and formality.
What?
Anne-Sophie works alongside head chef Luca Piscazzi to create beautifully presented dishes which are rooted in classic French techniques but presented in a light, modern style. These are complemented by a well-structured wine list which highlights Pic’s birthplace in the Rhône Valley.
The kitchen source excellent quality produce and the delicate combinations of these ingredients are insightful and intuitive.
Tremendous attention is given to the finer details, with herbs, flowers and spices judiciously used to enhance the main ingredient, so langoustines perhaps come with subtle hints of pine tree bud and geranium, or scallop with beetroot and Vietnamese coriander as well as smoked eel ice cream.
Dishes are refined and original yet deceptively simple to look at, with no superfluous elements – a fact clearly illustrated by the uber-instagrammable signature dessert, the ‘White Millefeuille’.
In considering La Dame de Pic for a promotion from One Star to Two, one of the Michelin Inspectors remarked that it’s is the sort of restaurant you could eat in everyday and never get bored – and with prices that start at £32 for the two-course set lunch menu, there’s no real reason why you shouldn’t!
For a list of all the NEW Star Distinctions for 2020 click here
For all UK Star listings click here
For all Republic Of Ireland Star listings click here
