Thirty Years Told In A Book

Thirty years is a long time for any restaurant. In October 2011 Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud marked the date with a book: The First Thirty Years^[1].

The book was written by Susan Ryan. It runs to 264 pages and tells the restaurant's history alongside more than 40 recipes from the kitchen^[1].

Three Voices

The story is told from three sides. Patrick Guilbaud speaks as the founder. Stéphane Robin speaks for the dining room. Guillaume Lebrun speaks for the kitchen^[1]. Together they have run the house for most of its life.

The book also gathers memories from famous guests and loyal regulars. Bono wrote the foreword^[1]. Others who shared their stories included Eamon Dunphy, Paul McGuinness and Kevin Myers^[1].

Stories From The Early Days

The book does not hide the hard times. It recalls the recession opening, the hunt for herbs and vegetables, the debates over portion sizes and the famous spudgate row over potatoes^[1].

A Book For A Good Cause

It was also a gift. Proceeds went to the Irish Hospice Foundation, a national charity^[1]. A limited edition of around 250 numbered, signed copies came in its own slipcase^[1].

Not every venture in those years had lasted. In 2002 Guilbaud opened a second restaurant, Venue. He ran it for five years and then closed it during the recession^[2]. The main house, however, kept going strong.

By 2011 the restaurant had held two Michelin stars for fifteen years^[1][3]. The book captured a moment when the house was both an institution and still very much alive.

Ten years later, a 40th birthday would bring a special tasting menu and a Champagne made for the occasion^[3]. But it was the 30th that put the whole story on paper for the first time^[1].