The All In One Ultimate Restaurant List Interview: Bruno Loubet

Bistrot Bruno Loubet opened in 2010 at the trendy Zetter Hotel in Farringdon. Loubet’s skill for experimenting with classic French dishes won great acclaim, as did the adjoining cocktail bar, overseen by 69 Colebrooke Row’s Tony Conigliaro. This marked his return to London (previous ventures included Bistro Bruno and L’Odéon) after working in Australia for eight years.

In June 2013 Loubet opened a new restaurant in London’s newest square, in the revamped King’s Cross area. Its home is the Granary Building, counting as neighbours the second branch of Caravan and a wing of Central Saint Martins. Although Grain Store is not a vegetarian restaurant, meat and fish are the complements rather than the main part of most of the dishes. “This is the restaurant I have dreamt of opening for years and the time really feels right now. I love meat and could never give it up entirely, but the endless opportunities that vegetables allow me - the colours, flavours, layers and textures - are so exciting."

He even favours vegetable-based dishes at home. “One of my favourites is a red lentil dahl with fresh ingredients added just before serving, such as diced apples, cucumber, spring onions, mint, coriander, and whatever else I can locate in the fridge that's fresh. I often freeze the base and defrost, adding the fresh ingredients to liven it up if I get back from work late."