• About
  • Scoring System
  • 30 Second Rule
  • United Kingdom
  • Rest of the World

gen.u.ine.ness

gen.u.ine.ness

Category Archives: Chez Bruce (*)

Chez Bruce – Review

27 Tuesday Jan 2009

Posted by gen.u.ine.ness in Chez Bruce (*), LONDON

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

1 Michelin Star, Bruce Poole, French, LONDON, Michelin Star, Review

Chez Bruce
2 Bellevue Road,
Wandsworth Common,
SW17 7EG
Tel: 020 8672 0114

Food type: French

Food rating: 6/10

Nearest tube: Clapham South/Balham, Wandsworth Common (overground train)

Website: Chez Bruce

It is hard to classify whether Chez Bruce is the perfect neighbourhood restaurant or a destination place for every foodie’s map. Located on the former site of Harvey’s in Wandsworth where Marco Pierre White and Gordon Ramsay had many a running battle, Chez Bruce has been popular with the locals at Wandsworth since 1995.
chezbruce_011

Bruce Poole (no surprises as to where the restaurant gets its name from) who has been cooking at Chez Bruce since it first opened his door, has trained under the watchful eyes of, first, Simon Hopkinson (Bibendum) and subsequently Philip Howard (the Square). His  career as a chef might not have taken off had he not decided to make a swap from front of house for the cooking stove at the not so tender age of 26.

The plaudits came quick and swift and by 1999, Chez Bruce gained a Michelin star which it has since held on to. It was also at this time that Poole, alongside business partner Nigel Platts-Martin set up the Glasshouse in Kew Gardens (watch this blog for an upcoming review of this restaurant) and subsequently La Trompette in Chiswick two years later. Surprisingly, Chez Bruce has been nominated by the Zagat Survey as the ‘Best London Restaurant’ in 2008, breaking Gordon Ramsay’s 7-year stranglehold on this award. Even more absurd is its nomination by the same guide as ‘Europe’s Top Restaurant’ in the 2009 edition with a hefty score of 29/30 – a score higher than any restaurant in Paris. Getting a booking here has been tricky in the past with their ridiculous booking policy of only taking bookings up to a month in advance. Thankfully that has changed, and combined with the ongoing credit crunch, getting a table here is not as difficult as in the past.

chezbruce_03‘From the outset, it was my intention to serve the best food but in a relaxed, informal yet thoroughly professionally run environment’ – Bruce Poole

chezbruce_04

Continue reading →

Seasons

April 2018
M T W T F S S
« Sep    
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
30  

Daily Specials

  • L’Ambroisie, Paris – Food For The Gods
  • the Hind’s Head, Bray – All That Is Old Is New
  • the Ledbury, London – Evolution
  • the Oxford Blue, Windsor – Promising
  • the Crown at Burchetts Green, Maidenhead – Bourgeoisie Cooking

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 1,205 other followers

Follow gen.u.ine.ness on WordPress.com

Instagram

Chocolate, banana, hazelnut, cocoa husk - A new chocolate dessert, and quite a looker too. The tempting of the chocolate is excellent as can be seen with the glossy sheen on it. On the base, a sort of chocolate, crumble tart with banana and chocolate cremeaux. Chocolate & banana may not be a combination that appeals to everyone but is one that works for me.  #michelinstar #finedining #foodie #foodporn #foodphotography @michelinguide #foodstagram #instafood #1michelinstars #London # @michelininspectors @lefooding @southplacehotel @angler_restaurant @garyfoulkes #dessert #dessertagram #dessertporn
Gariguette strawberry, savarin, mascarpone, strawberry ice cream - A pretty good savarin sponge. Of course, not as gossamer light as Ducasse's version, but moist nevertheless. The seasonal Gariguette strawberries have only just arrived and are good but perhaps not hit its peak yet. #michelinstar #finedining #foodie #foodporn #foodphotography @michelinguide #foodstagram #instafood #1michelinstars #London # @michelininspectors @lefooding @southplacehotel @angler_restaurant @garyfoulkes #dessert #dessertagram #dessertporn
Spring lamb, artichokes, new season morels, black truffle - Not known for their meat cooking (the restaurant after all markets itself as a fish restaurant), it is a shame that more people do not order Gary's meat courses as he is equally adept in both departments. The spring lamb dish was a special, perhaps a preview of what he has in mind later in season. The racked is cooked low and slow, with an even pink and absolutely meltingly tender. Sorry you can't see it as it is hiding under a mountain of morels and truffles. The meat jus is very typical of Gary's style making use of kombu to give it body but keeping it light. #michelinstar #finedining #foodie #foodporn #foodphotography @michelinguide #foodstagram #instafood #1michelinstars #London # @michelininspectors @lefooding @southplacehotel @angler_restaurant @garyfoulkes

Follow me on Twitter

My Tweets

Guest Book

  • francescacipolla on Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, London – From Strength to Strength
  • gen.u.ine.ness on Lyle’s, London – What is Gastronomy?
  • Pete on Lyle’s, London – What is Gastronomy?
  • The Ledbury 2016 | Bloggsom on the Ledbury, London – Going From Strength to Strength
  • DrV on Sushi Tetsu – What Sushi Dreams Are Made Of
view my food journey on zomato! Creative Commons License
This work is licenced under a Creative Commons Licence.

Blog at WordPress.com.

Cancel