Paul Kitching reveals details of new Edinburgh restaurant

Former Michelin-starred chef Paul Kitching has unveiled details of his forthcoming restaurant in Edinburgh.

 

Kitching and partner Katie O'Brien, who left Juniper in Greater Manchester after 12 years last year, will launch a restaurant with rooms in the Scottish capital in May.

 

In partnership with a private investor who has stumped up £4m, the venture, which will be located in a three-storey Georgian town house in Edinburgh's New Town, will be called 21212.

 

It will comprise a 38-seat main dining room on the ground floor featuring a floor to ceiling transparent partition to the kitchen , as well as a 10-seat private dining room and lounge on the second floor and up to four bedrooms on the third.

 

Kitching told Caterersearch the name of the restaurant reflects its menu, which will be daily-changing comprising two starters, a soup course, two main courses, a cheese course and two desserts.

 

"The style of cooking will be modern French, similar to Juniper but the small menu will allow me to change the dishes daily and turn things out much quicker," he said.

 

"It will be a more sophisticated menu than that of Juniper, a grown up version if you like."

 

The kitchen will be overseen by Kitching and sous chef Kate Johnson, who previously worked with him at Juniper. Front of house and the general operations will be headed up by O'Brien.

 

While Kitching cited Michelin star ambitions as his reason for leaving Juniper last year, he said accolades are now "less important than ever".

 

"I just look forward to running my own restaurant and cooking what I want and if awards follow then that's great but it's not a priority," he said.

 

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By Kerstin Kühn

 

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