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Justine and Björn van der Horst in the kitchens of the newly opened Eastside Inn, based in Clerkenwell |
Inn-viting: Michelin chef’s new restaurant
A MICHELIN-starred chef who once said he would rather kill himself than work for Gordon Ramsay again, has opened his own restaurant in Clerkenwell.
Björn van der Horst has teamed up with his wife Justine to open Eastside Inn in St John’s Street.
Björn, who has run high-profile kitchens in Manhattan, and a Mayfair restaurant, teamed up with Ramsay to open La Noisette three years ago.
The business wound down last March and Björn seized the opportunity to open up his own place, just down the road from the home he shares with his wife.
The couple were granted a licence at Islington’s Council’s committee meeting on Monday and opened their doors the next day.
The staff of the exclusive restaurant, which is divided into a 55-seat bistro and 36-seat dining area, are instructed to leave mobile phones in lockers and treat customers as guests in their home. They eat meals together with their boss and his wife.
Björn said: “Justine and I love entertaining at home. Every time we end up in the kitchen. We want people to come for the food and the wine, but it’s our little home.”
And he revealed how his life had not always been plain sailing. “I was expelled from an English boarding school because I was a silly young boy,” he said.
“There were times when our family didn’t have gas or electricity, but there was always a good meal on the table. My mother’s Spanish and almost everything happened around the kitchen table. I was trained by people who really loved what they did and beat me into shape. I needed that discipline.”
Björn completed most of his training in France, then spent six years in Manhattan, where he met restaurateur Marlon Abela, who offered him a job at the Greenhouse in Mayfair where he was awarded a Michelin espoir award.
He and Ramsay then set up La Noisette, but it closed two years later after a raft of problems.
Justine, who is also the general manager at Eastside Inn, said: “It’s a fantastic opportunity for us to throw a party all the time.
“It’s fun to be able to live it every day. It’s really exciting to work with Björn. Friends said it’ll never work, but we’ve proved them wrong.” espoir award.
He and Ramsay then set up La Noisette, but it closed two years later after a raft of problems.
Justine, who is also the general manager at Eastside Inn, said: “It’s a fantastic opportunity for us to throw a party all the time.
“It’s fun to be able to live it every day. It’s really exciting to work with Björn. Friends said it’ll never work, but we’ve proved them wrong.” |
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