Former St John employees to open Sparrow in Lewisham
Terry Blake and Yohini Nandakumar are to open their first venture, Sparrow, on Rennell Street in Lewisham on 28 March.
Blake will bring experience from his background as chef at Bao in London's Soho; Merchant's Tavern in Shoreditch, London; and St John in Clerkenwell, London, while Nandakumar will bring influences from her stages at St. John; Pollen Street Social in Mayfair, London; the Square in Mayfair; and her Sri Lankan heritage.
The menu will regularly change, and feature seasonal dishes that highlight British produce such as courgette trifolati and roasted spring onion bruschetta; glazed ham slices, served with home baked soughdough and rhubarb relish; roast pork belly, spiked with harissa; malt duck, served with chilli jam; salted chocolate caramel tart; condensed milk ice-cream affogato; and nutmeg custard tart.
Sparrow will be open from Tuesday to Saturday for dinner and also offer brunch at the weekends, serving a menu of eggs benedict; coconut pancakes and peanut caramel; and appam - a Sri-Lankan pancake made from fermented rice batter.
Nandakumar said: "We chose the name Sparrow because it reflects the kind of food that we make, like a sparrow we aren't specific to a place or country. One week we might put a classic Italian dish on the menu and other times we'll make a crunchy Malay-style salad with whatever is in season."
Blake added: "Taking influences from different parts of the world and combining it with great produce gives us the opportunity, and the freedom, to make a plate of food as delicious as it can be."
Sparrow will be a relaxed, light and airy space with an open kitchen. It will feature simple antique tables and chairs, and industrial light fittings.
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