Club Gascon chefs plan new London restaurant

Michelin-starred chefs Pascal Aussignac and Vincent Labeyrie have agreed a deal to open a new restaurant venture at Westfield London, the £1.6b retail development which opens in White City in October, Caterersearch can reveal.

The pair, who have retained a Michelin star at their Smithfield restaurant Club Gascon since 2002, will open a new venture called Croque Gascon within the Eat Gallery, the upmarket eating court on the first floor at Westfield. The predicted set-up investment will be between £200,000 and £300,000.

Speaking exclusively to Caterersearch, Aussignac said Croque Gascon would continue to showcase the food of his home region of south-west France. "It will be our version of ‘fast food'," he said. "Everything on the menu will be delivered in minutes and be a twist on our work at Comptoir (their bistro) and Cellar Gascon (bar)."

Food pricing at Croque Gascon, which will feature a 40 sq m open kitchen, is expected to between £5 and £11 per dish. The menu will list a total of around 12 dishes, including a duck burger with an option of pan-fried foie gras and cassoulet.

Westfield, which will encompass 270 retail outlets and more than 40 restaurants, is understood to be in negotiations with a number of other leading London chef-restaurateurs about opening in the Eat Gallery.

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By Joanna Wood

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