Nutshell appoints Chris Lyon as new head chef

Contemporary Iranian restaurant Nutshell in Covent Garden London has appointed Chris Lyon as its new head chef.

He replaces Jeremy Borrow who had been head chef since its opening in July last year and helped secure multiple glowing reviews including in The Guardian. Borrow has joined Momo Moroccan restaurant as its new head chef.

Lyons started his chef career in Brisbane, Australia and spent the last ten years working in London as a senior sous chef at Yotam Ottolenghi’s NOPI and Ramael Scully's eponymous restaurant, Scully.

He has been working with proprietor Marwa Alkhalaf to create a menu that celebrates Nowruz, the Persian new year which falls on Friday 20 March. Dishes have been created that celebrate seasonal ingredients including green plums, green almonds and sour cherries.

Sharing dishes will include Nutshell’s signature Bazaar Bread, served with an updated version of Naz Khatun, a creamy aubergine dip made with black garlic, tomato and radish. Also available is Tamarind Glazed Salmon with burnt aubergine, barberries, pistachio and rose, as well Kuku Sabzi – a mixed herb frittata that is a new year staple. Desserts will include their signature Zulubia and fig cream, a swirl of fried saffron dough dusted with rose and cinnamon sugar and served with yoghurt mousse and fig jam.

Marwa Alkhalaf launched the restaurant with her husband Mohammad Paknejad in July 2019.

Modern Iranian restaurant Nutshell to open in Westminster next week

Menuwatch: Nutshell