Coupette director to open new restaurant in Edgware Road this month

Executive chef Arsh Thakur has teamed up with Subjahit Mitra, director of Coupette in Bethnal Green, to open BKC in Edgware Road.

Due to open on 22 September, BKC, which stands for Biryani Kebab Chai, will offer Awadhi cuisine from Awadh (modern day Lucknow) in Northern India.

The grab and go-style, 40-cover restaurant will serve traditional biryanis, Northern Indian kebabs and chai.

Lucknow cuisine is known for slow fire-cooked dishes, kebabs, kormas, biryanis, kaliyas, nahari-kulchas, zarda, sheermal, rumali rotis and warqi parathas. BKC will serve a variety of Awadhi kebabs, which will be traditionally grilled on a chula or skillet as opposed to tandoor. Each kebab will be served with a choice of romali roti or laccha paratha.

Biryanis at BKC will be made with mutton or chicken alongside vegetable or vegan versions, all served in traditional earthen clay pots sourced from Northern India, in collaboration with an initiative helping local potters earn a better wage.

Traditional chai including karak chai will be made with evaporated milk and fewer spices than masala chai. The menu will also feature Kashmiri pink chai, made with gunpowder tea, salt and baking powder, to achieve the traditional pink colour.

The interiors of BKC will feature dark, sleek fixtures and fittings, banquet and bar seating and copper tableware. All dishes to takeaway will be served in “sustainable” packaging for collection or delivery via Deliveroo.

The restaurant will open at the former Pakhtoon restaurant at 7 Edgware Road.

Photp: www.instagram.com/bkc.restaurant/