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March 15, 2012

A Taste of France - Auberge du Petit Prince Restaurant and Petit Paris Crêperie & Pâtisserie

By Bryan Lavery

A Taste of France - Auberge du Petit Prince Restaurant and Petit Paris Crêperie & Pâtisserie

 

Petit Paris Crêperie & Pâtisserie offers a delicious representation of the French pastry tradition, located at the King Street entrance of the Covent Garden Market. A year ago, Chef Nicole Arroyas brought her expertise, business acumen and artistry to the downtown, talents she had already parlayed into success at the iconic Auberge du Petit Prince restaurant.
 
Pâtisserie seems to be Arroyas’s true passion and calling, her route was initially a circuitous one. After high school school, Arroyas left London to study in France at the Culinary Institute in Lyons, led by the venerated Chef Paul Bocuse. An internship led her to the renowned L’Astrance under the tutelage of chef Pascal Barbot (considered one of the world’s foremost chefs), who possesses a Michelin 3-star rating in Paris. A second internship conveyed her to Alain Ducasse, under Jean Francois Piège. Arroyas graduated with an international university-level diploma in Culinary Restaurant Management.
 
Upon her return to Canada, Arroyas worked in her parents’ restaurants until her calling for pâtisserie resurfaced. A couple of years passed, and Arroyas reasoned the timing was right for an additional challenge. She and her parents, Alain and Donna Arroyas, purchased the London culinary landmark, Auberge du Petit Prince, refurbished it, and it was reborn to much fanfare five years ago.
 
The Auberge is a renowned French-inspired bistro serving updated, iconic classics innovatively presented. The menus have focused on good, simple, country French cuisine, such as coquilles St. Jacques, confit of duck, frog’s legs, vichyssoise, and French onion soup. The menus evolve seasonally.
 
Each dining room is decorated and styled to reflect an iconic location in France. One main-floor dining room is titled the Versailles; the other more casual, bistro-style dining room is named the Provence. Both feature inviting fireplaces. The enclosed sunroom (formerly the outdoor verandah) is called Cannes. The upstairs features three intimate rooms for private functions and corporate meetings. The rooms are decorated with tapestries and stained-glass windows by the formidable London artist Ted Goodden. There is a well-appointed outdoor terrace for al fresco seating.
 
Service professional and uber-Chef Robbin Azzopardi has recently come on board as General Manager of the Auberge du Petit Prince. Only 29, Azzopardi has been in the hospitality business for fourteen years, starting in his family’s coffee shop.
 
Azzopardi is a graduate of the culinary arts program at Fanshawe College and worked as an instructor in the program for several years. Azzopardi, a well-respected chef, caterer (White Pomegranate), culinary consultant and events planner, has been employed at various dining rooms in London, including the London Hunt Club, Waldo’s on King, and most recently at the Tasting Room.
 
On Sundays, the restaurant serves the best brunch in the city. The Croque Monsieur remains a classic. The wine list is commendable. Azzopardi has recently introduced proper wine glasses to enhance the enjoyment of the wine.
 
Arroyas and Azzopardi know that there is a great opportunity for innovative culinary experiences to become part of the story depicting the uniqueness and diversity of London.
 
Petit Paris
130 King Street, Covent Garden Market, London
519-433-0647
Auberge du Petit Prince
458-460 King Street, London
519-434-7124
 

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November 14, 2011

This Holiday Season, Discover the Spirit of London, Ontario

By Joe Kirchmyer

This Holiday Season, Discover the Spirit of London, Ontario

Planning a little holiday getaway? Looking for a new shopping destination this holiday season? Just want to experience someplace new? Consider heading across the border to nearby London, Ontario, where a unique mix of shopping, restaurants, culture and history awaits! 

Want to get a good feel for the city before leaving Western New York? Tourism London has produced a wide variety of  brief videos that take you around the city and into some of its most popular destinations, from wineries and breweries to hotels, museums, restaurants, entertainment venues, festivals and much more. 

Richmond Row is London’s most interesting and innovative shopping district with over 200 businesses catering to your every need. There’s no doubt that you’ll find something special for everyone on your holiday shopping list!

To watch the London videos, visit www.discoverourspirit.com. For helpful information on planning a quick getaway to nearby London, please visit www.londontourism.ca.

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July 22, 2010

Covent Garden Market

By Doug English

Covent Garden Market

My memories of Covent Garden Market are of stands brimming with choice fruit and vegetables and a once-a-year purchase of a big, fresh turkey. 

A recent visit reveals a huge change. At one spot they’re selling Portuguese-style piri chicken. Across the aisle, its curried dishes from Kenya.  

On the other side of the cavernous main floor, Zorran Senovac puts on a show. Sliding back and forth on an oiled floor, he tossing phyllo pastry in the air, working it until its so thin it’s almost transparent. He’s making bureks, which he fills with things like meat, cheese or cinammon.   
The market, manager Bob Usher explains, is supposed to mirror the ethnic diversity of London. Another way it does that is by hosting festivals, African-Caribbean, Indian, Polish, Italian, and a new one, the Mexican Cinco de Mayo. 
 
Speaking of diversity, check out all the young people sipping tea or coffee and working on their laptops. 
 
There’s an upstairs, I discovered, with a shop stocking 300 kinds of tea and another selling children’s clothing made in Canada, not China. 
 
Some things haven’t changed: people who know what they sell, a scrupulously clean environment, and a half-hour’s free parking weekdays, two hours on weekends. 
 
Phone 519 439 3921; www.coventmarket.com 

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