The French Kitchen Launch - Evolution of an Auckland Icon

1st February 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


The French Kitchen

The French Kitchen, a Recipe for Serenity

Evolution of an Auckland Icon


New Zealand dining has been taken to a whole new level by restaurateurs, Simon Wright and Creghan Molloy-Wright, of The French Café. Their new dining space, The French Kitchen, offers between 10 and 30 guests an intimate and interactive experience – as Simon Wright himself prepares a four to eight course tasting menu in front of guest, offering his invaluable food counsel and tips throughout.

Linked to The French Café by a beautiful courtyard and an entirely edible garden, The French Kitchen is a light-filled and serene dining room opening directly onto the courtyard space. The minimalist yet warm interior is complemented by individually picked hand-crafted furniture and crockery which is arranged exclusively for each booking.

“The space has been 14 years in the making, and has surpassed our expectations beyond belief,” says Simon, Executive Chef, The French Kitchen, “It’s such a lovely place to work in and also offers me two differences to the way I usually operate. For a start, I love being able to concentrate on one course at a time, rather than juggling fifteen different meals all at once.

“It’s also incredibly interactive and gives me the opportunity to talk directly to guests as I work. By the end of the evening, it feels like we’ve all made new friends.

“To our knowledge this is a completely new concept, and has meant that we’ve done things the way we’ve always dreamed of, unhindered by what’s been done before,” says Simon. For example, each menu is customised, using the freshest and seasonal ingredients.

Wherever possible, Simon and his team use fresh herbs and vegetables from the courtyard garden. This is the ultimate Chef’s table.

In keeping with Simon and Creghan’s desire to create an intimate private dining room and kitchen, the pair has chosen to install an Electrolux domestic kitchen. Conceivably, guests will be inspired and able to replicate their experience in their own homes.

“Our customers keep coming year after year and they are always keen to see how we keep things fresh and interesting – we’re always looking for ways to evolve. The French Kitchen is our dream come true, and we look forward to sharing it with our guests, old and new,” says Creghan.

As seen in The French Kitchen:

- Interior design, by Katie Lockhart
- Shelving and cabinetry by Katie Lockhart in collaboration with cabinetmaker Grant Bailey
- Blown-glass pendant lights by Whanganui artist Katie Brown
- Paintings by Spanish artist Antonio Murado (who shows at Auckland’s Gow Langsford Gallery)
- Hand-made plates by Melbourne ceramic artist Shelley Panton
- Kopenhagen Chairs by Pols Potten, from SeehoSu
- Kitchen appliances by Electrolux (E:Line IOI Pyrolytic self-cleaning stainless steel oven, Combination Steam Oven, 91cm Maxisense Induction Cooktop, 91cm gas cooktop with 3 burners and ceramic glass finish, 4 speed powerful rangehood, 430L Modular Bottom Mount Refrigerator)
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About The French Café and The French Kitchen:

The French Café is a partnership between husband and wife team Creghan Molloy Wright, Restaurant Manager, and Simon Wright, Executive Chef. Since they bought and restored the restaurant in 1999, The French Café has been met with both public and critical acclaim. They have won the Cuisine Magazine Restaurant of the Year and Metro magazine Restaurant of the Year - five times, amongst many other awards.

The French Kitchen is the newest addition to The French Café, and is an intimate dining space with an open kitchen, where Simon will cook for an intimate number of guests. It is the ultimate Chef’s Table experience using fresh ingredients from the flourishing edible garden in the beautiful new courtyard that is shared with The French Café.

The French Kitchen is perfect for special occasions, whether personal or corporate, taking bookings of between 10 and 30 guests.

Simon has trained in Europe’s top hotels and Michelin Star restaurants, and his modern French food combines classical cuisine with a contemporary approach to ingredients and technique. Creghan’s warm, attentive and professional service blends her years of knowledge and natural hospitality.

Simon’s first book The French Café, was published in 2007 has been hugely successful and is currently on its fourth reprint. Simon is currently writing his second book to be published in 2013 or 2014.

The French Café and The French Kitchen is situated at 210 Symonds Street, Auckland. www.thefrenchcafe.co.nz +64 9 377 1911

About Electrolux

Electrolux products include refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines, vacuum cleaners, cookers, barbecues and air-conditioners sold under esteemed brands globally such as Electrolux, AEG-Electrolux, Frigidaire and Zanussi, and locally under brands such as Electrolux, AEG-Electrolux, Westinghouse, Simpson and Kelvinator. In 2010 Electrolux had sales of AUS 6.6 billion and 52,000 employees. www.electrolux.co.nz

ENDS

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