La Chapelle Restaurant brings the Rhone to London

If you were saddened by the news that Too Much Rain and High Standards means no La Chapelle Hermitage 2008, here's a consolation prize of sorts for you.

Chris and Jeff Galvin were moved enough by a visit to the Rhone valley to create another restaurant, La Chapelle, not just any restaurant, in London.

As you can see, main dishes (below) reach way beyond the Rhone to look as far as the Basque country actually.

• Grilled red mullet, bouillabaisse vinaigrette and herb fritters £16.50
• Pavé of halibut, caramelised chicory and artichokes £19.75
• Feuillette of baby leeks, salsify and hazelnut emulsion £14.50
• Suprême of Landaise chicken, poached leeks and shallot vinaigrette £15.50
• Tagine of squab pigeon and harissa sauce £22.50
• Roast côte de boeuf, truffle macaroni and Hermitage jus (for two) £53.00
• Slow cooked lamb shoulder à la Basquaise and herb ravioli £18.50

It was inspired by La Chapelle-Hermitage, the wines, the people, the food and the scenery.

The wind?

I did not realize until I read Fay Maschler's review Brothers push the boat out at Galvin La Chapelle (London Evening Standard, Nov 26) that the place has been opened for less than a month.

The wine list is not all Rhone though as Fay Maschler shares that she ordered some Chinon Les Gravières, Domaine Couly-Dutheil 2007, a real nice pick.

Are Loire wines better appreciated in the UK than in the US?