Photograph courtesy of Carmody Groarke
The restaurant interior
The Actor and I went along to the launch dinner of Bistrotheque's amazing new temporary restaurant at Studio East last night. It was a dreary, rainy Monday evening in London but as always for Bistrotheque the turn-out was fantastic. Mandi Lennard did a brilliant job organising the evening which was packed with the leading lights of fashion, art and design.
The restaurant designed by award winning architects Carmody Groarke has been built entirely from recycled materials from the Olympic site and is situated 230 feet up on top of the roof of the new Westfield Stratford City shopping centre, the largest in Europe. The restaurant looks directly over the new Olympic Stadium and offers panoramic views over the whole of London.
We took a short taxi ride from home to St Pancras International station where there was a reception at Searcy's Champagne bar. We were given card folders with our return train tickets. After a few glasses of Champagne and some nibbles we were escorted onto our train carriage. It felt like a glamorous school trip as we knew pretty much everyone there. It was quite an adventure!
All pictures snapped by me unless otherwise credited.
Searcy's Champagne bar at St Pancras International
The train took us into Stratford International station where we walked through special walkways across the giant building site. Huge goods lifts delivered us onto the roof of Westfield's building. The structure and views are breathtaking.
Photograph courtesy of Carmody Groarke
The rooftop restaurant
The structure is stunning
View across to the Olympic Stadium
More Champagne and the view from the tree-lined "smoking paddock"
The industrial chandelier
One side of the restaurant
There is no glass, the windows are made from giant heavy duty plastic strips
Picture from Mandi Lennard's iPhone
Bistrotheque owners Pablo Flack and David Waddington
Picture from Carri Mundane's iPhone
The fantastic Mandi Lennard
We were greeted by our friend, the fabulous actress Gwendoline Christie who is Studio East's hostess
Erin O'Connor with the brilliant sculptor Antony Gormley
Janet Street Porter and Tracey Emin. Love.
The wonderful Mary Portas and Alice Rawsthorne
i-D Editor Ben Reardon and artist Matthew Stone
Artist Dinos Chapman
Bistrotheque Co-Owner David Waddington and the fabulous Pam Hogg
Art Director Gary Card and James Jeanette
Gorgeous singer Bishi
Model Jade Parfitt
Ade Adipetan MBE, Paralympian
Esquire's Teo van den Broeke and designer Henry Holland
The lovely Brix Smith-Start
Designers Pam Hogg and Roland Mouret
Designer Gareth Pugh and artist, poet and musician Carson McColl
Cassette Playa's designer Carri Mundane
The marvellous Mary Portas and Janet Street Porter
Fashion guru Jane Shepherdson, formerly Creative Director of Top Shop now Chief Executive of Whistles
Writer Hanna Hanra and artist Sue Noble
Bishi and James Jeanette. Bishi always has the most amazing hair
The lovely designer Louise Gray and stylist Richard Sloan
Ben Reardon and Fashion East's gorgeous Lulu Kennedy
Julian J. Smith receives his award from Roland Mouret and Lisa Armstrong the Fashion Editor of the Times
Photography by Richard Young
Pam Hogg and Roksanda Ilincic
For a change I'm going to take the lovely Mr Richard Young's picture. I wish I had a proper camera like Richard's! I'm looking forward to interviewing him for Fashion's Most Wanted soon
Studio East's launched a cultural initiative to support emerging talent in fashion, art, product design and environment. Four winners were awarded £10,000 each. The panel consists of Mary Portas, Roland Mouret, Lisa Armstrong, Tracey Emin, Tony Chambers, Tom Dixon, Michelle Ogundehin, Erin O'Connor and Lucy Siegle. Mary Portas, Tracey Emin and Tom Dixon gave excellent speeches and presented the awards.
We were served more Champagne and Patron Tequila cocktails. The Actor and I were sat on the fashion table. I was delighted to be sitting next to my great friend Pam Hogg and designer Roksanda Ilincic.
The dinner was beyond delicious. Tom Collins has designed a fabulous menu of the finest quality, beautifully fresh British produce. Large plates of food from the communal feasting menu were brought out in stages. We were hungry but even we couldn't finish it all and The Actor has a huge appetite!
Photography by Luke Hayes
STUDIO EAST DINING MENU
••••••••
A communal feast by Bistrotheque's Head Chef Tom Collins designed to celebrate the best of the English Summer
••••••••
TO START
Dorset crab, endive, grapefruit
Pickled herrings and sardines, orange, raisins, pine nuts
Cured English ham, fresh piccalilli
Marinated heirloom tomatoes, grilled aubergine, courgette, chickpeas
Beaufort cheese, fennel, apple and walnuts
••••••••
MAINS
Steamed sea bass, samphire, broad beans, peas, lemon
Poached chicken, tarragon, watercress
Roast beef, horseradish
Grilled polenta, asparagus
Tomato, shallot, oregano gratin
Jersey Royals
••••••••
PUDDINGS
Patron XO, vanilla ice cream
Strawberries, shortbread
Honey and thyme roast peaches, mascarpone
••••••••
DRINKS
Cocktails by Patron Tequila
Saumur Rouge, Charles de Villeneuve 2009
Cheverney Blanc 'Unique' Domaine du Salvard 2009
••••••••
I was too busy eating to remember to take pictures of the gorgeous food. Here are a few by Caroline Loncq.
Sardines, orange, raisins, pine nuts
Steamed sea bass, samphire, broad beans, peas, lemon
Honey and thyme roast peaches, mascarpone
What a wonderful evening. A big thank you to David, Pablo and Mandi.
Studio East is almost sold out, book now if you'd like to experience it. It comes extremely highly recommended.
All photographs unless otherwise credited were taken by myself.
15 comments:
What an amazing place and the food looks divine.. I bet the launch was fabulous xx
Wow what an amazing space, the food looked sooo delish too!
Can't believe that something so beautiful could be made up of the offcuts of something else!
Truly inspirational.
Loved all the pix - Bishi's hair is AMAZING! How did she get that swirl on the front of her roll?!
Looks like it was a great night. I'm surprised that you're not the size of Belgium with all the delish food that gets served up to you on these jaunts :-)
Ali xxx
what a fabulous doo! looks an amazing place xx
Dear Ruth, it was gorgeous and the menu was right up your street, you would love it! Shame it's only on for 3 weeks! xx
Dear Smashingbird, totally mad being on a rooftop in the middle of a building site! xx
Dear Ali, didn't the architect do a fantastic job?
Bishi's hair is always extraordinary. I'll ask her who did the roll. Even The Actor was asking her about it! Google her for more pics. I'm very lucky to get fed so much. I think some summer exercise may be in order at long last though... Hope you're good xx
Dear David, it was loads of fun. Well worth a visit if you can xx
Wow!! looks great. you get to go to some very good parties christina.
Oh I just love seeing and exploring new spaces and this looks amazing! Thank you for sharing! Of course the whole night looked like a perfect place to be. xoxo
am now jealous and starving in equal measures.....
Love the kitty ears! I wore some this past Halloween. I wish I could wear them everyday. Menu sounds wonderful!
Looks like it was a great time. What a cool place!
I miss broad beans. We don't have those over here. We've just got lima beans.
Great post. It looks like it was the event of the season.
What a wonderful event xx Loving the Janet and Mary photo - my two faves!
I want to go here very very much! xxx
Oh I just really like seeing and checking out new areas and this looks amazing! Thank you for sharing! Of course the whole evening seemed like the best position to be
Love the pet ears! I dressed in some this previous Halloween parties night. I wish I could use them daily. List appears to be wonderful!
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