The Indefatigable Elena

When I was living in London, back in the 1970s and early 80s, I was fortunate enough to be able to dine at L’Escargot in Soho a couple of times. The restaurant was ruled over by Elena Salvoni, the tiny, but formidable, maître d’. Well, I say formidable, but she was also charming, and put me completely at my ease.

Incredibly, she’s still going strong at 90 years of age. She’s a Soho institution.