Gordon Ramsay is paying tribute to the legendary French chef Georges Auguste Escoffier at his new London restaurant at the Savoy hotel.
Restaurant 1890, named after the year that Escoffier first started cooking at the Savoy, is a tasting menu-only spot, seating just 26, with dishes inspired by Escoffier’s cooking of the time.
The restaurant, which sits above the Savoy’s iconic entrance on The Strand, is Ramsay’s third at the hotel, alongside The River Restaurant and the Savoy Grill. The executive head chef is James Sharp, who worked at Ramsay’s eponymous three-Michelin-star restaurant in Chelsea, as well as Pétrus.
Escoffier left the Savoy in disgrace in 1898, after being accused of fraudulent activity, but not before creating world-famous dishes such as peach melba and melba toast whilst in charge of its kitchens.
He is also cited as the creator of the military-style brigade system in professional kitchens, which is increasingly under a negative spotlight, as the industry looks to create healthier work environments. Ramsay, of course, has become a worldwide star with his drill sergeant schtick.
