Former Gordon Ramsay chef to head up kitchen at new Mayfair restaurant
A new Mediterranean restaurant opening in Mayfair next month will feature ex-Gordon Ramsay chef Tilly Turbett as head chef. Pucci on Maddox Street will serve small plates and pizzas, using British produce where possible. Dishes will include glazed wild sea bass crudo with chilli, melon and lime oil and harissa-charred cauliflower with green tahini and pomegranate.
New Persian kebab restaurant from the team behind Gymkhana
Berenjak, which is influenced by the hole-in-the-wall kebab houses of Tehran, has opened in Soho’s Romilly Street. Backed by the team behind Gymkhana and Brigadiers, chef Kian Samyani will draw on his heritage to evoke the style of a rustic Persian kebab house, reinterpreting signature dishes using seasonal British produce. Expect small plates including Kashk E Bademjoon (blackened aubergine with whey, walnuts and dried mint), and Jujeh, a whole poussin marinated in saffron, lemon and tomato. During game season, diners can also expect to see sour partridge and pheasant make an appearance on the grill.
Former Terroirs and Six Portland Road chef to open new Oxford restaurant
Pascal Wiedemann, who worked under Henry Harris at Racine before moving to Terroirs and Six Portland Road, is opening a new restaurant in Oxford with his wife, Laura. Called Pompette, it will take inspiration from across Europe and include a charcuterie wine bar next to the main dining room. The menu at Pompette will change daily and sample dishes include: chopped beef, rosemary, olive oil, lemon and lardo; grilled rabbit, mustard sauce, Alsace bacon and greens, and pear and almond tart with crème fraiche. Pompette opens in mid-November.
All change at the Merchants Tavern as Pippa MacDonald appointed head chef
Pippa MacDonald has been named as the new head chef of the Merchants Tavern in Shoreditch. Previously the restaurant’s sous chef, MacDonald also worked at Scott’s and J. Sheekey. She takes over from Neil Borthwick, who has this week moved to the dining room above legendary Soho pub, The French House.
New Iranian restaurant to open with ex-Noma chef at the helm
A former Noma chef is launching an Iranian restaurant in Covent Garden early next year. Nutshell will be the first solo venture for Leonardo Pereira, who worked at Noma for five years before moving to The Greenhouse. Using British produce, the menu will include overnight coal-baked squash, barberries and saffron curds; goat leg, grilled onions, buttermilk and coriander, and pomegranate, goat’s milk and pistachio. Prior to opening in Covent Garden, Nutshell is popping up at 202 Brick Lane until the end of the year, previewing dishes like crab, persimmon and nasturtium, and red partridge, pomegranate and oregano.
