Julien Imbert takes the helm at Le Pont de la Tour
Julien Imbert will take on the role of head chef at Le Pont de la Tour in London this December.
He replaces Frederick Forster, who joined the Don restaurant in the City as head chef over the summer.
Imbert will combine traditional French cooking with a modern approach in his new menus for the D&D London Tower Bridge restaurant, which includes a 50-cover bar and grill and a 90-cover restaurant. In the new year he will announce a new concept for the bakery and the wine and food store.
Toulouse-born Imbert landed his first junior sous chef role at London's Sketch. Following positions at Dinner by Heston Blumenthal and Berners Tavern, he was appointed head chef at Jason Atherton's City Social, which won a Michelin star within four months.
The new menus at Le Pont de la Tour include comforting French classics in the more informal brasserie-style bar and grill, such as steak tartare; mussels with white wine, Dijon mustard and saffron; slow-cooked beef cheek with mashed potato and red wine sauce; and croque monsieur served on brioche bread with a mornay sauce.
Imbert said: "I have kept the foundations of the menu true to the fundamental principles of French cooking, whilst also introducing modern elements that are reflective of French cooking today.
"We will begin anew, partnering with some incredible producers, from small dairy Farmers in Brittany for the best cheese and butter, Flying Fish in Cornwall for the finest fish and seafood, along with Turnips and other Borough Market suppliers for vegetables and meat."
In the main dining room, he has banished the crêpe Suzette trolley and soufflés and introduced dishes like Gigha halibut with curry velouté, mussels and Gruyère crust; and salt marsh lamb, braised shoulder, black garlic emulsion and lemon yogurt. Taking centre stage will be a whole duck shared between two, with a confit leg salad.
A newly-appointed front of house team will be led by general manager Fabien Battut accompanied by sommelier Paul Fauvel, previously of Céleste at the Lanesborough in London's Knightsbridge.
Housed in a 19th century former tea warehouse, Le Pont de la Tour opened in 1991 as part of the Butler's Wharf Gastrodome.
Restaurant group D&D London operates 36 restaurants in the UK, including Coq d'Argent, Paternoster Chop House, Bluebird Chelsea and Aster.
Frederick Forster appointed head chef of the Don >>
Menuwatch: Le Pont de la Tour >>
D&D London's Pont de la Tour to close for refurbishment >>
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