Rohit Ghai to open first solo venture Kutir

Rohit Ghai, former executive head chef of the Michelin-starred Jamavar, is opening his first solo venture in London.

Ghai will open Kutir in November with his business partner Abhishake Sangwan, who will oversee the restaurant's front of house.

The pair previously worked together at Jamavar, where Sangwan was director of operations, and JKS Restaurants (which operates the Michelin-starred Gymkhana and Trishna restaurants in London), where Sangwan was group operations manager and Ghai was executive head chef. They also worked at Bombay Bustle, which Ghai launched just ahead of leaving Jamavar earlier this year.

The new restaurant will be located just off Chelsea's Sloane Square in the townhouse that formerly housed the Michelin-starred Restaurant Vineet Bhatia. Kutir, meaning ‘hut' in Sanskrit, is inspired by royal hunting expeditions in the Indian countryside.

The food will be representative of the feasting-style, celebratory dining that occurs on these retreats, with an emphasis on game and seafood. The restaurant will offer a tasting menu of six courses for £60, as well as a full à la carte featuring dishes such as truffle and mushroom khichadi, lobster bonda and rasam, 24-hour slow-cooked rogan josh, and a tandoori stone bass with crispy squid.

There will also be an extensive cocktail list compiled by Sangwan, including the ‘sariska' with sweet basil, ginger, Bathtub gin, activated charcoal and lavender bitters; and the ‘lodgic', with jalapeño, watermelon, alphonso mango, gold leaf, sugar cane juice and Skyy vodka.

Ghai said: "I have loved each restaurant I've opened in London, but it feels even more special to open my own space and this is a passion project for me. Kutir is inspired by mine and Abhi's early careers in luxury Indian heritage hotels within wildlife sanctuaries across India. We both fell in love with the lush green landscape and were fascinated by the regional, seasonal cuisines."

Photo credit: Marjella @pavlovaandcream

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