Eneko at One Aldwych
Michelin-starred top chef Eneko Atxa, owner of the Azurmendi Bilbao restaurant in Spain (ranked 16th in the world’s 50 best restaurants), has brought his own very special style of Basque cuisine to a new venue at the award-winning One Aldwych Hotel in Covent Garden, London.
Just opened, the Eneko at One Aldwych bar and restaurant offers a menu featuring Eneko’s inventive interpretation of traditional Basque country cuisine inspired by Azurmendi and delivered in a relaxed and friendly fashion.
The restaurant is the brainchild of Eneko Atxa and Kostas Sfaltos, One Aldwych’s General Manager, who commented: “Eneko has incredible vision and passion for Basque cuisine and shares the same standards of quality, quest for innovation and respect for traditions as we do.”
The design of Eneko at One Aldwych uses many materials sourced from craftsmen in the Basque region, wood and stone in particular, including bespoke contemporary furniture and interior detail. The 35-seater wine bar is the perfect spot to enjoy a glass from the all-Spanish list including wines exclusive to Eneko at One Aldwych, direct from Eneko’s own vineyards
Eneko, whose other restaurant Bistro Pret A Porter in Larrabetzu has a Michelin Bib Gourmand, said “At One Aldwych we aimed to create an unpretentious take on rustic Basque cuisine, based on quality ingredients, simplicity and culinary heritage and the hotel is the perfect partner for this joint creation.”
The 100-cover new restaurant’s menu reinvents surf and turf dishes with recipes deeply rooted in traditional Basque cuisine.
Dishes on the menu include: Txerri Boda Pork Festival – a flavoursome trio of Iberico ham and mushroom duxelle in milk bread, suckling pig brioche and pigs trotter bocata; Basque-style hake tempura, red pepper sauce and parsley emulsion, and veggie dishes such as dressed beetroot tartare and bomba rice risotto with Idiazabal pesto. Also in evidence are Eneko’s signature rice pudding lollipops with crisp white and dark chocolate hazelnut coating.
Originally from the Basque Country, one of the areas with the most culinary culture, Eneko Atxa is a solid reference in international cuisine. He has managed to make his restaurant, located in the beautiful town of Larrabetzu, part of living history in Biscay, becoming the first to be awarded 3 Michelin stars between 2007 and 2012, respectively.
One Aldwych Hotel, a member of Leading Hotels of the World, opened in 1998, and continues to be one of London’s most acclaimed luxury hotels. Its many wards include Best Boutique Hotel in the World, London Luxury Hotel of the Year and Best Hotel in London.
Noble Russell Furniture for WFC – Eneko at One Aldwych
When WFC invited Noble Russell to manufacture over eighty-three metres of bespoke banquette seating for the new restaurant of one of the world’s most acclaimed chefs, they jumped at the opportunity. Based at the iconic One Aldwych Hotel, Eneko at One Aldwych is the latest restaurant for world renowned Basque chef Eneko Atxa.
The stylish new restaurant is the conception of leading designers Casson Mann. Their distinct interior design which brings together Eneko Atxa’s Basque heritage and London’s culture required specialist banquette seating for the main restaurant area in the cellar, along with the floating mezzanine area.
The original steel frame of the Edwardian building has been exposed by Casson Mann and they have “threaded” through the columns around the perimeter of the space, a sculptural steel ‘ribbon’ that incorporates the banquette seating.
Noble Russell’s expertise for creating bespoke seating was fully utilised to create the eight individual ‘floating’ banquettes for the basement area of the restaurant. Casson Mann requested the seats to be upholstered in a montage of different reds in both leathers and fabrics. These were inspired by the changing colour of red chilli peppers as they dry, as seen in Eneko Atxa’s kitchen at Azurmendi, Bilbao. The red banquettes stand on hidden steel supports which create a floating effect.
Alongside the perimeter seats, a large cantilevered banquette and smaller curved banquette were required to frame the island seating area. These have both been upholstered in soft stone Alma leather with button details and stand on stained timber legs.
Above the main restaurant area, the mezzanine required another large curved cantilevered banquette also upholstered in stone coloured leather and standing on hidden feet.
The finished range of Noble Russell banquette seating truly fulfils the design brief and adds to the exciting interiors that Casson Mann has created. The restaurant is set to be another must go destination for both food lovers and design hunters from around the world.
More information on Noble Russell can be found on their website: www.noblerussell.co.uk.
Interior designers Casson Mann website: www.cassonmann.com.
