London’s First French Pâtisserie Opens in Luxury Hotel

London’s first vegan French pâtisserie Café Forty One opened this week inside luxury hotel La Suite West near Hyde Park. The eatery’s head chef Clarisse Flon prepares breakfast, lunch, and afternoon tea, as well as all-day desserts. Breakfast items include a Full English Breakfast and Brioche French Toast with Roasted Strawberries, while the lunch menu consists of dishes such as Citrus Smoked “Salmon,” Pomegranate Salad, and Mushroom Bourguignon Pie and Mash. To evoke the pâtisserie aspect of Café Forty One, Flon serves all-day desserts such as Passion Fruit & Coconut Pavlova and Chocolate & Praline Millefeuille, while afternoon tea includes sandwiches, pastries, non-alcoholic “fizz,” and a selection of freshly roasted Italian coffee or luxury loose-leaf tea. Stateside, several French-inspired vegan pâtisseries have opened this year, including L’Artisane Creative Bakery in Miami and Crust Vegan Bakery in Philadelphia.