Le Cordon Bleu, Paris

Following the highly successful proposal and installation of the highly acclaimed Le Cordon Bleu, London, Court Catering were approached to design the new European flagship site overlooking the Seine and near the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

On the basis of our installation management skills and equipment performance at Le Cordon Bleu London we were not only asked to design the kitchens, and supply all the catering equipment, but to also include the installation and project management of this phase of works.

The brief, where possible, was to improve and exceed the original London designs over five floors and two basement areas. In all there would be 15 student teaching kitchens all having views over the Seine, a Café, a theatre teaching kitchen, a Production Bakery, training bakery, three demonstration kitchens, a wine study area and all the associated ambient and cold storage facilities. 

After 18 months of review and discussion the designs were accepted and work started on site.

Following the London site, Induction cooking was incorporated thus reducing the ventilation requirements and met Le Cordon Bleu’s focus on sustainability and green issues.

A redesign to one kitchen transforming it into an Asian teaching kitchen saw a two ring induction hob being manufactured by Heidebrenner in Germany, suiting with the Falcon 4 ring induction ranges and preventing water ingress to these ovens and the service spine to the rear.

A French speaking Court Catering Project Manager lived on site for the duration of the build and co-ordinated the UK deliveries, French builders and UK install engineers.

Due to various delays on site, the 26 week allocated time slot for the kitchen install was reduced and Court Catering arranged for shifts of install engineers to work round the clock to complete the project

At the Grand opening, the President and Owner of Le Cordon Bleu, Andre Cointreau remarked the operation “had exceeded his expectations”