#koffman

A precious baby boy, I love him, he loves flora, and he deserves to smile more.

Bennie Koffman, with a rare goatee-less baby face. That clean shaved face gives me some unexpected feelings, lemme tell ya.

I feel super embarrassed saying this… but this next event – I had no idea was going to be as much of a big deal, until someone had to tell me how world renowned these chef’s were.  At the beginning of October, I was lucky enough to be invited to the opening of Koffman & Mr. White in the Bath Abbey Hotel. The Abbey Hotel is a charming boutique hotel with Bath’s top attractions quite literary on the doorstep. The independently owned hotel has 62 individually designed bedrooms including family rooms and others which boast some of the best views in Bath.  It is also home to Koffmann & Mr. White’s, the first Marco Pierre White and Pierre Koffman brasserie in the UK offering quality, affordable French and English food in a relaxed and unpretentious environment.  The hotel’s ArtBar offers a vibrant space for bespoke cocktails, wines and champagnes and The Escape, a former World War bunker under the hotel, provides a contemporary private event and function space. 

So with that being said, it is with much anticipation, that Koffman & Mr. White’s, the new French English Brasserie, at the Abbey Hotel in Bath, has opened it’s doors to the public for the first time.  The restaurant is the first venture between the legendary chef’s Pierre Koffman and Marco Pierre White, and will be serving classic French and English dishes exclusively at the hotel, located right in the heart of Bath.  Over 40 years, the culinary giants, who have each formerly held an incredible 3 Michelin stars, have ruled the British food scene both in the Kitchen, as restaurateurs and on television. The pair have also been responsible for training a generation of Britain’s most coveted chef’s including Gordon Ramsay, Marcus Wareing, Jason Atherton, Heston Blumenthal, and Tom Aikens.  However, it is a love of quality food created from the freshest ingredients, and local produce that has cemented the longstanding friendship between the pair, and this mutual respect can now be seen as they join forces at Koffman & Mr. White’s. The menu boasts a variety of 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 a la Bourguignonne, and Lamb a Provencals, whilst the best of English cuisine will be represented by traditional plates of Mr. Lamb’s Shepherds Pie, and Trifle to name but a few. 

Other famous foodies have also influenced the new menu, with former Blur Bassist Alex James providing the cheese board selection, whilst Bath based baker Richard Bertinet will provide freshly baked bread to the brasserie every day.  Diners will feel transported to the bistros of Paris in the newly refurbished brasserie. The understated interior décor, created by Rebecca Wakeford at Black and White Hospitality, reflects the modest vision for the new restaurant and the classic nature of the food on offer.  Pierre comments, “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 “. Marco adds, “It’s great to finally have a restaurant in Bath. I know this part of the UK very well and Bath has always been a favourite city of mine to visit. The central location of the Abbey Hotel is second to none, and Pierre and I couldn’t have asked for a better place to open our first establishment together”.

Now that I have caught you all up to the official stuff about the restaurant. Let me tell you what I can tell you best… About the food ! 

My friend Patricia and I attended this event together, although we did see quite a few familiar faces from Bristol. As well as some of our favourite Bath influencers and creatives !