Chef Judy Joo to open London restaurant
Chef and TV presenter Judy Joo is to open a new restaurant in London's Soho called Jinjuu in January 2015.
The Korean-American chef, who is a regular face on the Food Network and Cooking Channel USA, is opening the site with the help of business partner Kia Joorabchian, football agent and founder of the Babbo Group.
The new restaurant means "pearl" and will showcase Joo's interpretation of Korean street food.
It will seat 85 people over two floors. Drinks and "anju" (Korean food consumed with alcohol) will be served at the ground floor bar. Accompanying an Asian beer selection, the cocktail menu, created by bar manager Kristian Breivik, will offer drinks featuring Korean spirit soju.
Downstairs in the restaurant, guests will be able to order Korean sharing platters and side dishes. Barbecued meats will be prepared on the open kitchen grill.
Joo, who was previously executive chef of the Playboy Club, has installed Andrew Hales as head chef. Hales was a regional finalist in the Roux Scholarship. Jaime Garbutt has been appointed head pastry chef.
