Le Pain Quotidien, the international chain of bakery-cafes with a presence in 19 countries, opens its doors to the city, next week. The Guide gets an exclusive sneak peek at its Belgian dining values and rustic interiors, and comes away with all five senses satiated

With its emphasis on 'breaking bread' and communal eating, Le Pain Quotidien (meaning daily bread) is immediately evocative of the Eucharist and Da Vinci's Last Supper.

When we learn that the restaurant chain was born in Brussels, Belgium, it all falls into place. Known as the birthplace of waffles and fried potatoes, the land of cheese and chocolate, Belgium's cuisine blends French fanciness with German largesse. The latter evident in the massive bread loaves and the cookies stacked near the entrance counter.


Le Pain Quotidien's piece de resistance is its community table,
which evolved from a sentimental story of how a couple met
and fell in love at a table at Chef Alain Coumont's first caf ufffd in
Brussels. A replica is available for community-style eating at
South Mumbai's Belgian cafe. PIC/ SHADAB KHAN

The well-lit space exudes an air of rusticity through its choice of furniture crafted from reclaimed wood and exposed air-condition vents. The red brick wall on the ground floor adds to the warmth of the space, and also highlights the chain's commitment to the organic lifestyle.

Most ingredients are sourced locally, and to ensure that the food meets international standards, founder, Chef Alain Coumont, we're told, spent over a month and a half perfecting the recipes with the team.


Vegetarian Lasagne with Ricotta Cheese and Mushrooms

Unhappy with mass-manufactured bread, Coumont set up shop in Brussels, in 1990, with the decision to bake bread using sourdough: a more time-consuming method employed by his grandmother. It was a tiny place, with just one bread-rack and a long seamstress' table that he found at a flea market; curved at the ends so unrolled fabric wouldn't get caught or ripped on the corners.

Legend has it that a couple met and fell in love at this table, and later booked the entire place for their wedding. A replica of this table now allows for community-style eating at all the sentimental chef's
bakery-cafes.

Feast for the senses
The highlight of the placeu00a0-- for usu00a0-- was still the food. The chilled Gazpacho was perfectly seasoned and the slice of baguette that complimented it was beautifully crisp (Rs 225). We enjoyed the Grilled Chicken Cobb Salad (Rs 350) that is supposed to be one of the chain's most popular preparations the world over.



We also loved the White Bean and Chickpea Salad (Rs 295) and the Grilled Asparagus with Ricotta Tartine or open-faced-sandwich (Rs 375). But it was the Vegetarian Lasagne with Ricotta Cheese and Mushrooms (Rs 350) that stole the show.

Not only was this a real treat for the palate, it was a veritable architectural marvel, with each layer of pasta and sauce clearly delineated. Excellent Belgian beers, Stella Artois and Hoegaarden and a hand-picked variety of wines are also available to complete your Belgian
dining experience.

At Dhanraj Mahal, Apollo Bunder, Colaba.
Call 66150202
Le Pain Quotidien opens next week.