Taste of London: Chef’s Table with Atul Kochhar

My visit to this year’s Taste of London was a first. I’ve written before about my experiences at the Christmas events, so with them in mind I was really looking forward to the London one.

Taste of London is the big daddy of them all and takes over most of Regent’s Park, where it resides for four days. It’s a chance for people to sample the food of high-end London restaurants, that offer tasters of their signature dishes.

I had an invite to attend Electrolux’s Chef’s Table, where two Michelin starred chef, Atul Kochhar, would cook for a small group of about 10. Kochhar is a regular on Saturday Kitchen, Great British Menu and other broadcast shows, but is most noted for his Indian restaurant and bar, Benares.

We were served a selection of dishes from the Benares menu. Kochhar takes inspiration from India and British cuisine to come up with creations such as a deliciously plump, sweet, scallop that packed heat, spice and had great contrasting textures and flavours. To a contemporary take of an Indian classic ‘Sag Gosht’ – with lamb so tender and cooked to perfection.

This was followed by smoked ducked with spicing and flavours very reminiscent of the Caribbean jerk rub. Again, with great textures and fruity pear lifting the richer flavours. An amouse bouche of Raspberry Bhapa Doi was a lovely end to a rather excellent meal –  a joy to the senses.

The dishes were served with various matching wines. My favourite being the Pinot Gris Reserve, Domaine Jean Sipp, Ribeauville, Alsace, France 2010. It was a stonker – crisp, fruity and refreshingly light. We were given petit fours to take home – they didn’t make it home – too good.

Jal Tarang/Roasted Handived Scottish Scallops
with Textures of Cauliflower

Jal Murgi Aur Channa Chaat/Home Smoked Gressingham
Duck Breast, Pear and Spring Onions

Saag Gosht ‘Contemporary and Classic’- Rack of Cornish Lamb,
Polenta, Pickled Artichoke and Spinach

Amuse Bouche – Rose and Raspberry Bhapa Doi with
Raspberry Burfi

Having pottered about a bit after the meal, my day at Taste was rounded off by a cooking-a-long with Tom Kitchin at Electrolux’s Chefs Secrets. I did have the opportunity to take part, but I’d been nursing a hangover that had decided to properly kick-in at that point, so watched from the sides. Kitchin expertly and effortlessly led participants in to making a very fine looking mackerel escabeche.

Right: Tom Kitchin

A day at Taste of London involves exactly that – lots of little snippets of interesting food, demos and tips. You’d pay triple figures to eat at some of the restaurants on show, but there you get to sample them at a fraction of the cost.

Many thanks to Electrolux for the invite.