Theo Randall to open London casual dining restaurant
Chef Theo Randall (pictured) is set to launch a new casual dining restaurant in London's Kensington.
The restaurant will also feature an Italian deli selling seasonal produce, fine ingredients and artisan products.
Leoni, formerly of Theo Randall at the InterContinental and Sartoria, has worked with Randall to create dishes focused on seasonality and flavour, drawing on the ethos of Randall's recent cookery book, My Simple Italian.
There will be a selection of cicchetti on the menu such as grilled Bramata polenta with smashed salt cod and red anchovies; and classic bruschetta with roasted Datterini tomatoes, fresh marjoram and new season olive oil. Larger anti pasti, primi and secondi dishes will include: carne salata - a fresh rocket salad with cured Black Angus beef, aged balsamic vinegar and parmesan and Tuscan gnudi with parmesan, sage and noisette butter. There is also a choice of pasta dishes like pappardelle con ragu di coda di bue - fresh pasta with slow cooked oxtail ragu and red wine.
Randall, creative director, said: "This casual dining Italian restaurant is something I've wanted to do for a while. I love the local area, my children even go to school nearby, so I wanted the restaurant to be warm and inviting - a place for neighbours to feel completely relaxed. The food reflects this idea; we've made it simple by stripping back the dishes to let the ingredients really sing out. I love creating real food that people want to eat. That's what Italian cooking is all about!"
Philip Chambers, general manager for Hotel Indigo London Kensington - Earl's Court says of the opening; "We want people to feel like they are a part of a family when they dine with us, and most importantly, that it's a place where they can relax, have fun and try something new. The food, local and craft beers, and Italian wines are all outstanding with a fantastic team, both inside and outside the kitchen, to bring it all to life."
Randall already has a restaurant within an IHG hotel, in the shape of his eponymous Michelin-starred restaurant at the InterContinental on Park Lane, which has recently been revamped. Randall also has a minority stake in the Azzurri Group, the owner of the Ask Italian and Zizzi restaurant chains.
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