Cerebral foodies will gather at the LRB Bookshop near the British Museum next Thursday, September 22, to discuss the gastronomic debt England owes to French cuisine.

Speakers will include chefs Stephen Harris (pictured) of Whitstable gastropub superstar the Sportsman, hailed for his “phenomenal” cooking by the Harden’s Survey, and Alexis Gauthier — one of those debts in person — whose restaurant Gauthier Soho “oozes romance and decadence”.

Critic and fine-dining expert Andy Hayler will also take part, and it won’t all be talk as there’ll be a top-class selection of cheeses, charcuterie and wines in attendance too.