Café Le Cordon Bleu

Café Le Cordon Bleu.

Bloomsbury, London.

Another quiet, outstanding lunch spot that I will begrudgingly bestow...the Café Le Cordon Bleu.

Le Cordon Bleu is a world class culinary school with its roots originally in France. And, the first of its kind opened by the Le Cordon Bleu culinary school, this café is a patisserie, boulangerie, and viennoiserie headed by Le Cordon Bleu Master Chefs. The concept is vaguely reminiscent of L'Ecole, a Michelin starred restaurant in NYC headed by the students of the International Culinary Center. Either way, the colorful sweet and savory offerings make for an affordable lunch off the beaten path. Quite off the beaten path actually, since the café is tucked away in a hidden courtyard with a Leica specialist store and fine art gallery. Fortunately, the café is very close to the NYUL campus, being right across from the British Museum. Take a nice leisurely walk around the area of the museum and hopefully you will be able to join Le Cordon Bleu students and others in the know for a quick bite.

Tartines from left to right: Crayfish & Tomato Salsa, Quail's Egg Salad, Manchego & Membrillo, Waldorf Chicken Salad

The two-bite tartines may be the best way to sample the versatility of Le Cordon Bleu chefs. For example, the Waldorf Chicken Salad tartine hails from NYC and the Manchego & Membrillo tartine from Spain. While each bite is a symphony of different flavors and textures, the sweet fruitiness of the membrillo (quince paste) against the mild Manchego cheese was especially memorable. 

Fougasse Tartiflette: cheese, bacon, & potato

A combination that couldn't possibly go wrong.
For any sweet tooths, the Café Le Cordon Bleu also offers freshly baked pastries and hot drinks for an equally luxurious breakfast as well!