Acme Fire Cult’s Daniel Watkins joins Holy Carrot flagship

Acme Fire Cult co-founder Daniel Watkins has been appointed executive chef of vegetable-forward restaurant Holy Carrot, which is due to open this summer. 

Holy Carrot was launched by Irina Linovich in 2020 and began as a series of pop-ups and residencies across London and Bicester Village. 

Watkins will be at the helm of Holy Carrot’s 60-cover flagship restaurant and cocktail bar in London’s Notting Hill, where he will be offering low-waste, sustainable cuisine with a focus on his signature “fire and ferments” dishes. 

Linovich said: “This first flagship restaurant for Holy Carrot has been a long time in the planning for us. We are thrilled to be able to share this news, as we set roots in Notting Hill, a place we now call home.
 
“Portobello Road’s iconic charm and creative spirit perfectly align with our mission, offering a seamless fit for our unique vegetable-focussed dining experience.”

Watkins added: “The dishes we will be developing at Holy Carrot are entirely unique, created using the very best seasonal produce available, showcasing beautiful bold flavours, unusual combinations, and kitchen techniques that ensure ingredients are used in their entirety and to their very best.
 
“One of my favourite dishes on the launch menu is roasted Romero peppers, dill, almond & koji cream, and fennel pollen, finished with olive oil and a good pinch of salt to bring out the peppers’ natural sweetness. Ultimately, as long as you respect the ingredient, then it does all the hard work.”