Ravinder Bhogal partners with Ratnesh Bagdai for debut restaurant
Food writer and cook Ravinder Bhogal is set to launch her debut restaurant in London's Marylebone this September in partnership with Ratnesh Bagdai.
The restaurant called Jikoni, which means ‘kitchen' in Swahili, will be situated on Blandford Street, where Bhogal has previously had residences.
It will be influenced by Bhogal's mixed heritage and travels, with flavours and culinary traditions from Britain, East Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
Chef-patron Bhogal said the food at Jikoni will be the kind of food she looks to cook and eat with friends and family at home.
The menu will be split into snacks, small plates, big plates and desserts. Her unusual takes on Scotch eggs which have been signature dishes at her pop-up ventures will also feature on the menu.
They include a prawn toast quail scotch egg with banana ketchup and pickled cucumber and Goan inspired pork Scotch egg served with tomato and ginger chutney and a spiky carrot achaar.
Big plate dishes will offer comfort food such as a ‘spiced up shepherd's pie'.
"We are looking forward to being part of the Marylebone neighbourhood - so many restaurateurs I respect a great deal have been here for years."
She added: "I have had residencies at both Trishna and Carousel on Blandford Street and could not have imagined that one day I would be opening my own restaurant amongst them. I am so excited to welcome guests to Jikoni and what I hope will just be an extension of my home and kitchen."
The site was acquired from Portman Estate earlier this year. It will be designed in a collaboration led by London studio, Creative Family, and will take inspiration from the maternal kitchens of Bhogal's childhood.
Bhogal has previously worked with the likes of Michelin-starred Trishna, Le Café Anglais and Mark Hix for a series of residencies.
Bagdai has more than 20 years' experience in hospitality, having started his restaurant career with Caprice Holdings. He also co-founded Restaurants Etc along with Hix.
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