September 2012
Mes Amis, bonjour,Do you mind If I get in touch on a more regular basis… ? You see there are so many things going on, with two restaurants, that sometimes I forget to mention them to you, or maybe there is no enough room in my letter....Anyway, let me know if I become too boring....
I was a bit down this morning; maybe, it was due to watching Andy last night on his epic victory at the US Open!! What a game! Andy, next time you are in Edinburgh, there is a bottle of Champagne waiting for you at La Garrigue...well done!.... So, when I received the Which Good Food Guide book through the post along with my window display it made me realise that, after all, La Garrigue is not doing so bad! I mean, we have been in the Good Food Guide for the last 5 years now, won the Regional restaurant of the year in 2011, we also have been awarded 2 AA rosettes every year since 2001, Gordon Ramsay elected us as the Best French restaurant in Scotland and we appeared in Ramsay’s Best restaurant TV show....we also are “hit “listed in the List magazine, and won a few accolades as City restaurant of the Year, City Chef of the Year...I think I can retire now...
Of course this is no time to get complaisant, or to take things for granted so we will keep our head down, and hope that we are going to get enough support to keep us going for a little bit longer.. I am scared to see places like Olorosso closing down, and so many good restaurants having to offer some really silly prices just to survive...until now I refused the” Monster Deal” and “Groupon” vouchers scheme but....”2 for one” is an attractive deal from a customer point of view ; the problem is my suppliers charge me full price, and the VAT man wants his share, and the rent...rates...enough, sorry about that!
I am planning to start the Cabarets again at La Garrigue Bistro in Leith, started working on some new dishes for the coming season, just finalised our Festive menus; now on the website, recruit a couple of new Chefs and waiting staff following the departure of the seasonal employees.
Details of the Wine tasting Evening on the 10th of October are also available and I am really looking forward to this special evening with The Château de Cabezac; we already have a few bookings and this, without doubt, is going to be” La Garrigue 2012 Gastronomic Evening”; If you haven’t booked your table yet, then don’t wait too long....
I also would like to start my French Speaking Lunches/Dinner ; the idea is to have a few Francophone sharing a French Lunch , with French food, wines, conversation only...chaired by...well, myself? Unless I can convince some French personality to join us...If this kind of event appeals to you please give me a call.
Right, this is enough for now, and I have some work to do....by the way did I told you that my son; J-Laurent was 30 last Sunday? Where does the time go?
A bientot,
J-Michel and the team.