Look out, Hong Kong, James Henry is coming. Paris has been a little bit obsessed with James Henry. Us too. When the Melbourne chef left Bones, his restaurant in the 11th, in August, speculation was running rife about his next move. A bakery? A farmhouse? Something wood-fired? A new Bones?
Turns out everyone was wide of the mark. Everyone who didn’t somehow guess that his next move would be east. Way, way east.
As it turns out, Henry has relocated to Hong Kong and is about to open a Parisian bistro, named Belon, on Elgin Street in Soho. It’s not going to be Bones, but it’ll be something that fans of Bones are going to love, says a spokesperson from Black Sheep, the restaurant group Henry has joined for the venture. (Black Sheep has a taste for Australian talent, it appears; former Ms G’s/Mr Wong chefs Jowett Yu and Bao La head the kitchens of Ho Lee Fook and the newly minted Le Garçon Saigon respectively.)
Belon will be committed to French classics and favour an all-French, natural-leaning wine list focusing on boutique producers. The doors are expected to open in February. Stay tuned.
