Pierre Koffmann and Marco Pierre White have opened their collaborative restaurant venture Koffmann & Mr White’s located within the Abbey Hotel, Bath.
This collaboration brings together two of the most revered names in our industry.
Pierre Koffmann is one of a handful of chefs in the UK ever to have been awarded three Michelin stars at his restaurant La Tante Claire in London. The signature dish of the restaurant was pig’s trotter with chicken mousseline, sweetbreads and morels. Marco Pierre White called this his “favourite dish of all time”, high praise indeed.
In 1994, at the age of 33, Marco Pierre White became the first British chef to be awarded three Michelin stars and was also the youngest at that time in the history of Michelin. This accolade was given whilst White was leading the brigade at Harveys, a restaurant in London’s Wandsworth, which at the time he co-owned with restaurateur Nigel Platts-Martin.
Koffmann & Mr White’s will operate as part of Marco Pierre White’s Black & White Hospitality business, and we understand that plans are already set to develop the brand further. One year’s exclusivity has been agreed with for The Abbey Hotel before that roll out begins.
Koffmann & Mr White’s is Black & White Hospitality’s seventh brand now sitting alongside Steakhouse Bar & Grill, New York Italian, Wheeler’s of St James, Mr White’s English Chophouse, Bardolino Pizzeria, Bellini & Espresso Bar and Marconi Coffee and Juice bar.
Black & White Hospitality is a fast expanding hospitality business, co-founded by Marco Pierre White and Nick Taplin, demonstrated as it is now approaching its fiftieth venue across the seven brands.
Nick Taplin, Chairman and CEO of Black & White Hospitality told us:
“Nothing like this has ever happened before and it’s hugely exciting to now see the restaurant open.
“The energy between these great friends is amazing and they are bursting with ideas while the combined knowledge of these culinary giants is just phenomenal.
“As we approach our fiftieth restaurant the opening of Koffmann & Mr White’s heralds another amazing new chapter in the Black & White story.
“We have a very strong portfolio and our business model of aligning the restaurant brands with hotels is one that has proved very successful. We’ll now look to build on that model, using Marco’s philosophy of creating restaurants that offer affordable glamour.”
Boasting a variety of the classic French and English dishes which have made the two chefs so famous over the years dishes from the continent include French Onion Soup, Snail à la Bourguignonne and Lamb à la Provençale, whilst the best of English cuisine will be represented by traditional plates of Mr Lamb’s Shepherd’s Pie and Trifle.
The understated interior décor reflects the unpretentious vision for the new restaurant and the classic nature of the food on offer and will transport diners to the bistros of Paris.
Pierre Koffmann was delighted saying:
“It’s been fantastic working with Marco again, 36 years after we first met. We’re really looking forward to sharing our passion for delicious classical food and ingredients with our diners at Koffmann & Mr. White’s.”
The rarely humble Marco Pierre White very graciously added:
“For many, many, many years I reflected on my career and one of my deepest regrets was not spending more time with Pierre in the kitchen so it’s great to finally open this new restaurant in Bath.”