The triple dream of launching a centre, a “lieu” or destination place, for food, art and music has been realised by Mourad “Momo” Mazouz and his team of chefs and designers over two expansive floors of a converted 18th century building in Conduit Street, Mayfair, London.
sketch is a complex and unique site. Conceived by French master chef Pierre Gagnaire and restaurateur Mazouz, it has attracted unprecedented media reaction for its myriad food, drink and entertainment styles since it opened in December 2002. Gagnaire's culinary genius has inspired the menus throughout sketch. His eponymous Michelin three-starred Paris restaurant has a distinctive menu style, which Gagnaire had adapted for sketch. Executed by his acolytes, the food is imaginative, bold, ground-breaking and delicious. These two visionaries have come together to create sketch...
Mourad Mazouz:
mazouz A recognizable figure in France for celebrated restaurants such as Au Bascou and 404 in Paris. Mourad Mazouz opened Momo restaurant in London in 1997, winning ‘Bar of the Year’ in the Evening Standard for its clever mix of world music, chic staff and sexy interiors. In 2006 Mourad opened Almaz by Momo in Dubai, a superb amalgamation of modernist North African design and food. Mourad teamed up with the Prada Foundation in 2008 to open the Double Club. A Congolese ‘pop-up’ restaurant and bar, designed by world renowned artist Carsten Holler. Another Paris opening soon followed with the opening of Derrière. With a talent to combine the most unusual in the most unexpected way. Mourad has also published The Momo Cook Book and founded the record label Mo’Zik..
Pierre Gagnaire:
Gagnaire Born into a family of restaurateurs Pierre Gagnaire’s 50 year rise to culinary superstardom began with his first restaurant in 1980 in St Etienne. Twice awarded the coveted 3rd Michelin star accolade, his influence continues to receive recognition worldwide for his restaurants in Paris, Las Vegas, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Seoul and Dubai. The name ‘Pierre Gagnaire’ has become synonymous with adventurous and iconoclastic cooking, with his unique culinary rhythm and technical mastery. Executed for Pierre by Johannes Nuding and Hervé Deville (executive chefs of sketch) the food promises to be imaginative, bold and delicious.
...the air warm, the scent sweet –
"I want a room," thought he, " to rest." "Certainly my dear," he was told, "you have a choice of eight." "You lie," said he… on counting he saw only six. "Ah yes, but eight rhymes with cake." "Okay," said he, "what shall I find?" "Well," said the voice, "if you are very hungry and have coins in your pocket, ascend the stairs and you will find a dining hall of such magnificence, it will so take your breath away that your face will be a certain hue." "Gosh," thought he, checking his pockets and his complexion in a mirror, "what else do you have?" "There is a bar ranked with chairs of every discernable shape… one is bound to suit… and gentlemen behind the bar who will mix a beverage so fair to help sooth the most pained head."
As the man savoured, and savoured some more, the voice again came to his head: "there is a gallery of projected art in a room so clean and rare while the sun is up, which at night, at 7, becomes a brasserie of light. Food of all kinds passes the table where you sit, to be picked and chosen for your heart’s desire. As the midnight hour approaches, tables and chairs are brushed away to allow movement and dance that comes when music infuses the room. Come, sir, another night in the same image you would not see." As the man’s thoughts wandered in and out of his head, one trickled out of his ear, never to be thought again. "Do you like cakes?" "Well, yes I do." "Well," said the voice, "there is a fine tea room, too." "What is this place?" "All I wish," said the voice, "is that you arrive with an open mind and imagine, if you will, a painting that never dries."
