User:Steph 270/Roussillon restaurant

Roussillon Restaurant is a Michelin-starred restaurant on 16 St Barnabas Street, in Pimlico (London, England). The restaurants name comes from the village in the Lubéron rather than the Catalan region.

Named by Chef Alexis Gauthier after acquiring it in 1997 in partnership with Alex, and James Palmer (the same entrepreneurs who set up, then sold, the New Covent Garden Soup Company). It had previously been Marabel’s, but new ownership prompted the name change. Roussillon was then starred by Michelin back in 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, 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 it’s 5–course Flower Menu of petals and floral essences coinciding with the Chelsea Flower Show.

In 2005, Alexis 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.

Chef’s who have worked in the kitchen of Roussillon include Alexis Gauthier, who in April 2010 decided to devote more time to other projects. 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, the building is now smart, minimal and tasteful.