The Steeple Times

Tag: Elistano

  • The Loss of La Bras

    The Loss of La Bras

    The closure of La Brasserie in Chelsea should send a signal to greedy landlords; their avarice is killing London

     

    There are restaurants that come and go and there are ones that become institutions. La Brasserie fell into the second category but sadly, yesterday, after 45 years in business, this popular dining spot closed its doors for the very last time.

     

    A great loss to the neighbourhood and a firm favourite of everyone from Mary Quant to Mickey Rourke, this Brompton Road restaurant and bar was considered a home-from-home by its loyal staff and rambunctious regulars. Never did one pass through its doors without encountering a plethora of familiar faces and never did one leave without having been part of something akin to an episode of Cheers.

     

    Opened originally in 1972 and run by its charming and able proprietor Peter Godwin since 1972, the sad demise of ‘La Bras’ (as it was endearingly known) came about after a six figure rent increase resulted in continued trading being utterly unsustainable. Joining many other restaurants in the area to have departed – including Elistano on Elystan Street, Itsu on Draycott Avenue, Poissonnerie on Sloane Avenue and Toto’s on Walton Street – soaring business rates did not help either but one can certainly attribute far more blame to the not-so-charitable landlords grasping to achieve an extra buck.

     

    In a statement, issued via Facebook on Wednesday morning, a representative for La Brasserie remarked:

     

    Peter Godwin the proprietor of La Brasserie, announces with deep regret the closure of the restaurant after 45 years, due to insurmountable increases in overheads and operating costs.

     

    Peter would like to thank all the wonderful hard working staff, many of whom have worked here for over 20 years and have become a real family. He would especially like to thank his right hand man for 42 years Majid Barka, he says he could not have done it without him. He would also like to thank the fabulous management team, Suzie Cooke, Ross Armitage, Cesar Salinas, Carlos Marques, Elodie Bourges, Juan Lousada and Anna Milescu . Also the fantastic team Jose Dantes, Angelo Saavedra, Teodosio Candeias, Manuel Nascimento, Juan Carlos Moreno, Maria Hernandez, Anca Stroia, Edyta Grzesik, Ferran Rodriques, Alessandro Mazziotto, Alhaji Kanu, Anastasios Andreadis, Carlos Teotonio, Hasmik Gevorgyan, Iveta Sudova, Karla Pestana de Barros, Manon Fouquet, Marion Vialle and Monica Cassiano. Last but definitely not least our amazing kitchen team, Head Chef Jamie Smith, Christian Cheregi, Antonio Filipe, Jose Marquez (Pepe), Alexandro Fratini, Desmond Cowan, Jason Whiskey, Jonathan Lincango, Kwacu Owusu, Leopaldo Alvarado, Nanis Dimitrakis, Salar Samyani, Silviu Manole and Stephan Mendes.

     

    It’s a huge disappointment that we had to close, but we have exhausted all possible options to remain in operation. Thank you for all your support, we have enjoyed 45 years of trading and serving you, our customers. As you well know, you have become our friends and extended family. We hope you and your family have enjoyed it as much as we have and we wish you all the best for your future.

     

    Please forgive us and remember the good times!

     

    Peter and all the team at La Brasserie.

     

    Of this sad development, Matthew Steeples, editor of The Steeple Times, commented:

     

    “Chelsea’s character is being torn from its soul by greedy commercial property owners wanting to replace long established businesses with chain stores and luxury goods brands as they believe they’ll pay higher rents”.

     

    “Given the number of empty shops and restaurants peppering the locality, however, the strategy of landlords is plainly not working. These charlatans are killing the area and all that will soon be left is a near empty money park”.

     

  • Derek Taylor: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”

    Derek Taylor: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”

    20 questions with businessman, restaurateur and philanthropist Derek Taylor

     

    The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force?

    Never give up on your dreams.

     

    “Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?

    Do as you would be done by.

      (more…)

  • John Armstrong

    John Armstrong

    CVB0081O_02.tifThis poet and artist was born in Consett, County Durham and began writing aged just 13 during his time studying at a monastery in Shropshire. Famed for his amazing head of a hair and a regular at the Chelsea Arts Club, amongst Armstrong’s most poignant verses is one from his poem Who Am I in which he states: “I am the thin red line that will not yield, I am that far off corner of a foreign field, I am an Englishman!”

  • Five of the best: Deals for those visiting the 100th RHS Chelsea Flower Show

    Five of the best: Deals for those visiting the 100th RHS Chelsea Flower Show

    The Steeple Times suggests five of the best deals to accompany the RHS Chelsea Flower Show

     

    ‘The Season’ is nearly upon us and we at The Steeple Times especially look forward to a number of events. Our favourite has to be Masterpiece (26th June to 3rd July) but we also love the RHS Chelsea Flower Show (21st to 25th May). Below, we suggest a few other ideas for readers visiting the show (more…)

  • Martin the Poet

    Martin the Poet

    Martin the Poet“Dinky, danky, doodle, dee, I am a poet and so is she” goes his opening line. This Scot wanders the streets around Chelsea Green selling poems. “I am the magic man”, he often continues and “I could have sex with any woman I wanted” are amongst the other quotes he shares. “Dinky Danky” and his companion, who is generally perched atop of a shopping trolley full of empty beer cans, inject a little joy and laughter into the lives of those that they encounter.

  • Just what the doctor ordered

    Just what the doctor ordered

    A review of Elistano, Chelsea

     

    Lunch in the company of Rex Leyland, who co-founded The Restaurant Doctor with Pierre Koffman and Terence Martin, is always a pleasure as he is frankly one of the most passionate foodies I’ve ever encountered. We recently met, along with the former restaurateur Anthony Brown, at Elistano in Chelsea and a good time was had by all.

     

    Elistano, 25-27 Elystan Street, London, SW3 3NT

    Leyland is a character whom the Evening Standard once described as an “excitable bearded man.” He founded the Chelsea institution Foxtrot Oscar with Michael Proudlock and variously owned other restaurants including Jake’s in Hollywood Road and Busby’s. Now based between a gargantuan houseboat at Kew Bridge on the River Thames and a home in Spain, his insatiable enthusiasm for food, cars and planes is quite wonderful. You can follow him on Twitter @Rexthesex.

     

    Elistano is itself a restaurant that I have known for some years as a good friend, Guy Mountford, worked there whilst he lived in the UK. He sadly suddenly had to return to South Africa after breaking up with a girlfriend and in the following period many changes have followed. As is often the case in the restaurant business, chefs and managers have come and gone at Elistano but now the venue seems to be back on track after a much needed facelift.

     

    One of the problems at Elistano was that it was just too noisy. Owner Derek Taylor has successfully rectified this by installing sound reducers and this has somewhat solved the problem. The décor has also been updated considerably and my only criticism would be that the flooring remains stuck in 1972. In time, I am sure this will be replaced also.

     

    To start, we shared a selection of small plates and salads. Mr Leyland was especially impressed with a Vitaminica salad (£12.95) that he described as “fabulous” but Mr Brown’s beef Carpaccio (£10.95) was unfortunately fridge cold. My choice of chorizo sausage in red wine sauce, however, was a little too fatty and somewhat disappointing.

     

    I continued with a delicious chicken escalope with rocket and cherry tomatoes. At £12.50 this was great value for money and the chips (£3.95), surprisingly for an Italian restaurant, were exceptional.

     

    Mr Brown opted for the 8oz rib eye steak with béarnaise sauce and a grilled tomato (£17.95). All meat at Elistano comes from the restaurant’s neighbour, Jago’s butchers, a terrific local business, but sadly on this occasion the cut was mostly fat. Himself living across the road from the restaurant, he did however comment that on previous visits this particular steak had generally been a most suitable choice.

     

    We concluded with Elistano’s homemade tiramisu, as well as trifle (both at £5.95 each) and a cheese selection (£7.95). The tiramisu was perfectly executed but the trifle was somewhat lacking. As I see only too often, the cheese was served fridge cold. This is an error that would have resulted in a meltdown if a certain American I know had been present and it is a mistake that restaurants should take heed to ensure does not occur. White wine should be served from the coolest of fridges. Cheese should be at room temperature.

     

    The wine list at Elistano understandably is mainly Italian in focus. A 2010 Pinot Grigio is pefectly quaffable and priced at £24 a bottle. Variety comes in the form of a list that ranges from a half-litre carafe of house wine priced at £11 to an £89.50 Montepulciano. The Vina Zaca Rioja (£29.95) we tried was also especially good.

     

    Elistano is somewhere one can rely on for good simple cuisine at reasonable prices. Yes, it has faults but so do all restaurants. This is a neighbourhood restaurant that truly deserves a chance.

     

    Elistano, 25-27 Elystan Street, London, SW3 3NT. Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7584 5248. Website: http://www.elistano.com

     

    Follow Elistano on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/elistano

  • Sir Peter O'Sullevan CBE (1918 – 2015)

    “The Voice of Racing” was undoubtedly the most charming gent in England and was the first sports broadcaster to have been knighted. (more…)

  • Stoned & Stoddart

    Stoned & Stoddart

    John Stoddart features in a Parisian exhibition

     

    To mark the 50th anniversary of The Rolling Stones, La Gelerie de l’Instant opens an exhibition named “Photographies de Stoned-and-Respectable” this evening in Paris.

     

    Stoddart’s triptych of The Rolling Stones

    Photographs featured most notably number works by Terry O’Neill, Patrick Anson, the 5th Earl of Lichfield, Albert Watson, Peter Lindbergh and Philip Townsend. A triptych by Whitstable based John Stoddart is one of the undoubted stars of the show.

     

    La Galerie de l’Instant, 46, rue de Poitou, 75003, Paris, France

    Comments Stoddart:

     

    “It’s an honour to be included in this showcase. The Rolling Stones are true legends in their lifetime and I very much enjoyed capturing them.”

     

    The exhibition runs until the 15th September.

     

    La Galerie de l’Instant, 46, rue de Poitou, 75003, Paris, France. For more details, go to: http://www.lagaleriedelinstant.com/photographe/Stoned-and-Respectable-.-a31

     

    View the official website of The Rolling Stones at: http://www.rollingstones.com

  • William Cookson

    William Cookson

    An “urban abstract” artist who also paints a superb portrait. His family founded the renowned CV Travel empire that turned Corfu into “Kensington-on-Sea.” George Osborne rented his mother’s home in Corfu 2008 and whilst there controversially met with the billionaire financier Nat Rothschild and Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska. One of four brothers, he’s exhibited at Elistano, Bistro K and Brinkley’s. Another showcase is deservedly imminent.

  • John Stoddart

    John Stoddart

    John StoddartA Liverpudlian who moved from shooting with guns whilst in The Grenadier Guards to snapping the best-known personalities. Always kitted out in the finest garb, Whitstable based John Stoddart is particularly partial to a stiff G&T at 12 noon. His subjects have variously included Tony and Cherie Blair, Pierce Brosnan, Daniel Craig, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Martin Scorsese, Catherine Zeta-Jones and His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales.