Tradition. Innovation. Excellence. – Since 1931, thousands of students have followed these principles at Le Cordon Bleu in London, one of the top culinary arts, wine, and management schools in the world.
Located on Bloomsbury Square, the stately entrance radiates grandeur and energy, and students dressed in white aprons with the signature blue logo hurry past me as I sign the register to meet with Culinary Arts Director, Emil Minev.
Bulgarian born, he is only one of the many success stories the institution can proudly look upon. From working with Pierre Koffman at 3 Michelin-starred La Tante Claire at The Berkeley Hotel to his most recent position as Executive Chef at the Shangri-La Hotel London, Minev’s career has spanned more than 25 years. After a friendly introduction (I can’t help myself smirking at the sight of his larger than life chef’s toque), we head upstairs to the herb garden. Above the rooftops of London, amidst bee hives and thyme, we talk about the city which Minev has called home since 2001.
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What is your favorite restaurant for a special occasion?
The Ledbury – 2* Michelin in Notting Hill. It is one of my favorite restaurants and is not only one of the best in London but one of the best in the country. The food is excellent and it’s great for special occasions.
I am also a big fan of Jason Atherton’s restaurants, Pollen Street Social in particular. Great value for money for a 1* Michelin restaurant.
What is your favorite local food to eat or prepare?
Nothing can beat a good Scotch egg. I enjoy very much cooking it. It does require certain skills to prepare it. And it only tastes great when prepared with good quality ingredients. There are a number of restaurants in London that serve a different version of this classic.
What ingredient can you find in your city that you can’t find anywhere else?
London is a very cosmopolitan city. There is a great choice of ingredients here and many restaurants offer international cuisine. Some of the locally produced ingredients are of exceptional quality –rhubarb, green asparagus, Black Angus beef to name a few. That does not mean that they cannot be found anywhere else but they are unique on their own.
Where do you like to go on Saturday night?
I have little children, two boys, and normally I spend my Saturday nights with them at home. Occasionally, we go out to the Mercato Food Court near Elephant and Castle for great sourdough pizza and a kids friendly environment, even on a Saturday evening.
We normally go out for Saturday or Sunday lunch:
For good Chinese food and Dim sum, in particular, we like Royal China near Canary Wharf by the river Thames. To get there you can enjoy the river taxi boat from central London.
For great comfort French Food, we like Cassecroute down at Bermondsey Street and Song Que Café in Shoreditch offers the best Vietnamese food in my opinion.
What is your favorite attraction in the city?
Without a doubt Borough Market near London Bridge – great vibe, fantastic food and quality ingredients. I used to work just down the road from the market and visited nearly every day when it was open. We choose most of our ingredients for our restaurants from the stands there.
On my days off, I wake up early before it gets crowded and take the boys to buy some fresh fish for the weekend. We will often have a lunch at Borough Market and grab a cheese toasted sandwich from Kappacasein or a divine salted caramel doughnut from Bread Ahead.
What is your favorite shopping street?
I like Kings Road, Sloane Square and the area around it. It is quieter than Oxford Street and Regent Street, and there are some very good places around there.
What is your favorite museum?
Definitely The British Museum, it is right on the back of Le Cordon Bleu London, and is basically the Museums of “the World “gathered under one roof.
What is your favorite monument in the city?
I think Tower Bridge is a spectacular building. I am also quite fascinated by the Parliament Building – it is a phenomenal piece of architecture. If one stops taking a picture of Big Ben for a moment and looks at all the little details – truly impressive.
Are there any secret things that you love to do in your city?
London has a lot to offer. It is a city that is always moving, where things are happening all the time, from a “secret” theater performance in the tunnels of the underground to a street food festival or a farmers market. The challenge is that there is so much going on that it is hard to find time for all.