Bruno Loubet’s culinary background includes some of the UK’s best restaurants, including La Tante Claire, Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, and The Four Seasons London, in addition to his own previous London sites – Bistrot Bruno and L’Odéon.
Returning to London after eight years living and working in Brisbane, Australia, Bruno brought his distinctive modern bistrot food to one of London’s leading boutique hotels, The Zetter, with great success, when he launched Bistrot Bruno Loubet in 2010.
Grain Store launches on 10 June, and explores a different side to Bruno’s skill and creativity. There are no geographical boundaries to the influences that have inspired the eclectic menu – they are a culmination of Bruno’s extensive travels and the years dedicated to his beloved vegetable patch.
Although many dishes have a meat or fish element, this menu gives vegetables equal billing, if not the starring role. Fermented, sprouting, pickled and smoked ingredients feature alongside the fresh and the seasonal. Flavour above all else is king. The restaurant will also play host to an ongoing programme of events welcoming guest chefs, producers, authors and artisans.
“This is the restaurant I have dreamt of opening for years, and the time feels right now. I love meat and could not give it up entirely, but the endless opportunities that focusing on vegetables allows me -‐‑ the colours, flavours, and textures – are so exciting” – Bruno Loubet
Sample dishes
- Sprouting beans and seeds, miso aubergine, crispy citrus chicken skin, potato wafer Courgette, broad bean and prawn falafel, raita
- Vegetable merguez, aromatic vegetables and preserved lemon salad Chilled lobster ‘Bloody Mary’
- Sticky rice, kimchi cabbage and stuffed chicken wings steamed in lotus leaf Spiced candied tomatoes, goat’s milk panna cotta
- Strawberry and balsamic jam, horseradish ice cream, nasturtium leaves
Prices
Small plates: £3 – £10.50; Large plates: £10 – £22; Desserts: £3.50 – £6
Interior design
Grain Store is a restaurant that has been designed to evolve and grow with the new King’s Cross Central neighbourhood. Occupying a large corner site, there is seating for 120 in the restaurant, 40 in the bar, and alfresco for up to 80 on Granary Square itself, looking out over Regent’s Canal. The eclectic interior, created by Russell Sage, is designed around the idea of
the ‘exploded’ kitchen, with exposed brick walls, wooden tables, and white, unmatched chairs.
The bar
The bar is also a destination in its own right. Tony Conigliaro and Bruno Loubet have collaborated on their respective menus, matching savoury cocktails with specific dishes, combining kitchen techniques with processes from Tony’s laboratory. Tony has also taken inspiration from the Greco-Roman approach to wine, experimenting with the introduction of herbs and spices to flavour them.
The Zetter Group
The Zetter Group is owned by Mark Sainsbury and Michael Benyan, and comprises the acclaimed Zetter Hotel, Bistrot Bruno Loubet and the multi award winning Zetter Townhouse. First joining forces 16 years ago to open the restaurant Moro, they have more than 40 years of experience between them. Mark has several Directorships within the hospitality sector and is the founder of the Sustainable Restaurant Association.
Grain Store, Granary Square, 1-3 Stable Street, London N1C 4AB
020 7324 4466
Twitter: @GrainStoreKX
