The mayfair Magazine | Food & Drink
The C o n n e c t i o n
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With all the francophone eccentricities fans could hope for, Raymond Blanc OBE is now charming commuters between London, Paris and Brussels. A proud ‘British Frenchman’, he talks Eurostar cuisine, Mayfair eateries and treasured Christmas traditions with Kari Rosenberg
on! Raymond Blanc, OBE is probably the French-est Frenchman living in the UK. Proud of his heritage, while enthusiastically ‘enriched’ by old Blighty’s culture (interestingly he uses ‘us’ and ‘we’ to mean British, not French) the internationally celebrated chef has just been announced Eurostar’s new culinary director for Business Premier passengers, which seems fitting considering his genuine adoration for all things English (as well as all things French) depending on which side of the channel he’s stood. ‘Bon!’ As long as it’s ‘sustainable, traceable, local and fresh’, he is keen to sing the culinary praises of both his ancestors and neighbours alike. Completely self-taught, Blanc was born in Besançon, the capital of the Franche Comte region in eastern France, between Burgundy and the Jura mountains. Inspired to cook by the local produce as was the remarkable Maman Blanc, he started his career in England as a waiter at the Rose Revived restaurant. In later years following the success of Les Quat’ Saisons, Maison Blanc, Brasseries Blanc and Le Manoir, as well as penning and performing through numerous media outlets, Blanc is now feeding weary travellers commuting between London, Paris and Brussels. In his own charming way, over almond-dusted croissants and intermittent ‘mademoiselles’,
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