British Food & Design Champions CANTEEN open in Covent Garden

30 May 2012

Following the success of Canteen’s temporary ‘restaurant in residence’ in Covent Garden’s Piazza, the popular mini-chain confirms that another permanent restaurant – its fifth – is about to open its doors. 

Canteen Covent Garden is located on the ground floor of the Lyceum Theatre. The entrance on Wellington Street is to the right of the theatre and is one of the gateways to Covent Garden that attracts over 50 million visitors a year. The restaurant and bar design reflects Canteen’s now recognisable signature style - contemporary, democratic and welcoming.

The site may be new but the philosophy remains the same: all day dining from breakfast to dinner, with lunch and afternoon tea in between, allowing customers to enjoy reasonably priced food that is good quality, freshly prepared and seasonal.  

Canteen’s mission is to raise the standard of British food on the high street, and it does so by serving high volume but at high quality, because it never compromises on its ingredients sourced from around the British Isles.

Canteen works directly with some of the UK’s best food producers. All its meat is ethically sourced, its fish is supplied from day boats on the South Coast and everything is made fresh in the Canteen kitchens, including all jams, chutneys, cakes and ice-creams. 

Canteen is celebrated not only for its all day menu but also for its progressive approach to design. The restaurant group designs and produces its own furniture, through British design studio Very Good & Proper.

With the original façade of the building dating from the 1830s, Canteen’s contemporary design is juxtaposed with the ornate molding around the tall windows and front doors. The bar area is sleek and inviting with its zinc bar top, Very Good & Proper designed bar stools and chairs and reclaimed Victorian mosaic floor tiles.

A slope leads down to the large oak herringbone-floored dining room with booth seating lined against a tiled wall (original tiles used by London Underground); the ‘Covent Garden Chair’ in various colours sits at the round tables, while the brushed brass Canteen Utility Chair lines the long tables beneath the windows.

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Helena Rizzo & Daniel Redondo's Sao Paolo restaurant MANI

3 May 2012

On Monday 30th April the 50 Best Restaurants in the world were announced, and just outside this list at no.51 is MANI restaurant in Sao Paolo, Brazil, and I am delighted to announce that we are now representing MANI run by husband and wife chefs Daniel Redondo from Catalunia and Helena Rizzo from southern Brazil.

Helena and Daniel met while working for the second best restaurant in the world - El Celler de Can Roca in Girona Spain. Together they bring inspiration from their heritage and past experience while showcasing their unique local produce and transforming traditional Brazilian dishes into their innovative and contemporary style.

Helena is noted as one of the best chefs in Brazil, and MANI is just one of three Brazilian restaurants included in the World's 100 Best Restaurants.

Oh, and their website is gorgeous! http://www.manimanioca.com.br/

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