L’Artisan, the only Genuine French Bistro-Cafe du Midi in Cheltenham !!
With many years of background in the hospitality industry as early as Catering School where they met, Yves and Elisabeth Ogrodzki have perfectioned their skills in different types of hotels and restaurants in France.
They opened their first restaurant in Provence which they ran successfully for seven years and then decided to leave France to come over England. Settled in Leicestershire between Melton Mowbray, the Rutland and Leicester, they took over a rural pub where they created a typical Provencal French atmosphere in a setting you could find in a little village near Avignon.
The local press wrote: “They arrived in Thorpe Satchville in October 2005 but were determined their arrival should not be seen in the village as a second French Revolution. For 10 years they had run different restaurants in Paris, where both their children were born, then moved to Nimes to open their own restaurant. They spent seven years there and featured in several restaurant guides.”
“We wanted to move on to give our children the chance to become bilingual, and to have travel and career opportunities they wouldn’t have if we stayed in France,’’ explained Elisabeth.
Described in March 2006 by Metro as a genuine Gallic restaurant with a real taste of France, serving genuine regional French cuisine prepared from fresh ingredients sourced locally or from France and Five Stars rated by the Leicester Mercury in June 2006.
La Table d’Yves has won a whole battery of East Midlands Food and Drink awards – among them Best European restaurant, Best Gastro-Pub, runner-up for Best Service and Front of House 2011/2012.
“I think we’ve banished the idea that French means expensive and formal,’’ Yves says.
[/col]He believes that a plate of food should be a work of art. It must appeal to the eyes and the nose as well as the taste buds. The meal should have contrasting flavours and textures and, above all, must produce that vital feel-good factor.
Then, after 7 years spent in Leicestershire, they decided to move to the beautiful town of Cheltenham, in the Cotswolds. They have received from the customers of “La Table d’Yves” their best encouragements and all promise to come to Cheltenham to see them (see reviews & press page).
The restaurant with white tablecloths and cutlery deployed “a la Française” was run by Elisabeth. The Head Chef Yves offered a la carte an authentic range of traditional and creative French dishes regularly updated.
They have now converted the restaurant into a French Bistro – Café du Midi.
* A big Merci to JAY RAYNER for his review in “The Observer” in November 2021.
L’Artisan, Cheltenham: ‘They know what they are doing and they do it extremely well’ – restaurant review | Food | The Guardian
We are so happy and proud. Almost 10 years since we have been running L’Artisan ! what a reward !
(He even mentionned the HorseChoux !)
www.horsechoux.co.uk (we sell Horsechoux magnets !)
* I am so proud of my husband Yves who has won in March 2023 the award of:
Casual Dining Chef of the Year 2023 at the Gloucestershire Foodie Awards !
(@glosfoodieawards) Yves Ogrodzki – L’Artisan | Photos 2023 Awards (gloucestershirefoodieawards.co.uk)
