Barbarella, a Chelsea favourite for over 40 years, has a new Head Chef and Italian-inspired dining menu from Tuesday 23rd April 2013.
Situated on the Fulham Road and having undergone an extensive refurbishment and re-launch by owner Jack Freud in October 2012, Barbarella is once again on Chelsea’s social map and with the appointment of new Head Chef Lauren Clement Delbos the restaurant will now become the venue’s focus.
Born in London, brought up in Spain and having worked as a chef throughout Europe, India and Thailand, Lauren has spent years travelling round the globe to perfect her cooking style and search for culinary inspiration. Having started off her career in a beach cafe in Goa, she worked all over the world before moving to London to take on chef roles at the Clifton Kitchen, Ottolenghi and The Salusbury. Following her restaurant work, Lauren then set up a successful catering company, Sugar and Spice before taking a year off to have a baby. A year on, she is excited to be back on the scene, bringing her distinctive style of fresh, honest and flavoursome Mediterranean food to Barbarella.
When creating the new Barbarella menu, Lauren drew her inspiration from the original Italian style that made the restaurant so popular when it originally opened. Featuring Cicchetti instead of starters, and fresh, seasonal sharing options for mains, Barbarella’s menu has been designed to encourage the Mediterranean tradition of group tasting and moves away from the fussiness of formal restaurant dining.
Samples from the menu include:
Pulled Crispy Pork with Radicchio & Toasted Hazelnuts – £7
Seared Salmon, Green Bean, & Cucumber Noodle Salad – £7
Wild Rabbit & Fennel Stew with Celeriac Mash – £18
Seabass Cartoccio with White Wine, Samphire, Fennel & New Potatoes – £18
Whole Roast Thyme & Lemon Infused Chicken with Sautéed Potatoes and Watercress Salad – £15 p/p
Homemade Tiramisu – £7
White Chocolate and Pistachio Parfait – £7
Following a £2 million refit, Barbarella combines luxurious style with laid back comfort in its 125 cover restaurant. With sleek lines, sumptuous furnishings and wood panelling, the overall feel is cosy yet chic. On late weekend evenings, Barbarella takes on a lively house party vibe – think dancing on the tables, but in your own home. Barbarella’s ‘hampers’, served until 2am, provide snacks for hungry partygoers.
Alan Greenhalgh is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of MANinLONDON. A dedicated arts advocate, commercial theatre producer, and lifestyle journalist, he has spent years documenting London’s world-class dining scene, West End theatre landscape, and premium cultural trends. Through MANinLONDON, Alan bridges the gap for local insiders and international travellers seeking the absolute best experiences the UK capital and beyond has to offer.
Barbarella, a Chelsea favourite for over 40 years, has a new Head Chef and Italian-inspired dining menu from Tuesday 23rd April 2013.
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