Atul Kochhar’s Kanishka restaurant opens in Mayfair

Atul Kochhar, the first Indian chef in the world to receive a Michelin star, officially opened his restaurant Kanishka on Mayfair’s Maddox Street. It is his first venture with Tina English, another recognised innovator of London’s Indian dining scene, Kanishka aims to explore lesser known regions of Indian food, showcasing cuisine from the country’s more remote territories and borders. Kochhar won Michelin star at the acclaimed Tamarind restaurant of Mayfair in 2001. He left to open Benares in 2002, which was awarded its own Michelin star four years later. Now a celebrated restaurateur, television personality and cookery book author, Kochhar attributes his success to his use of regional Indian flavours alongside British produce. Kanishka showcases the cuisine of territories previously unexplored by London’s restaurants, particularly the mountainous Seven Sister States in the North-easternmost region of India – namely Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura and Mizoram. Kochhar’s menu explores the flavours and cooking methods of the states, with techniques such as salting, smoking and fermenting. The influence of bordering countries Nepal, China, and Bangladesh is also explored through the use of soya, raw meat, dumplings and noodles. Using seasonal and locally sourced British produce where possible, signature starters include Gangtok momos filled with Kentish lamb and served with fermented vegetable chutney and Tibetan guinea fowl thupka, a classic north-eastern noodle and meat soup with coriander and green onion. Mains include a Seafood Alleppey Curry, a dish of pan seared seafood and coconut and turmeric sauce, and desserts such as a Tandoori fruit custard, pistachio bhoora, which uses a Tandoor to cook seasonal fruit alongside Kashmiri saffron custard. Signature cocktails include the Roast Banana Old Fashioned, made from Tandoor roasted banana with cinnamon, orange and pecan bitters, maple, and the more savoury Ingrita, made from Mezcal served alongside a chilled lightly spiced tomato broth. Meanwhile, ‘Kanishka’s World of Imagination’ puts the mixing in the hands of the drinker, allowing customers to create their own highball drink. The restaurant’s extensive whisky menu showcases over 50 types of whisky, with a unique selection sourced from India. Named after King Kanishka, an emperor of the Kushan dynasty in the second century, Kanishka is inspired by the ruler’s use of Buddhist values, including kindness, fairness, honesty, humbleness and a sense of equality. These themes are explored through the interiors, designed by Fabled Studio with the aim of creating a nostalgic sense of ritual and tradition. Guests will be greeted by whimsical topiary elephants and an antique front door, whilst inside will feature verdant foliage against shades of blue and beaded details. Split across the ground and basement floors, the 127-cover space includes a bar, a terrace at the front, and an intimate, 12-cover garden room downstairs. Kochhar said: “Kanishka is a very exciting project for us – it’s a great opportunity to continue to showcase Indian flavours alongside quality British produce, but also introduce London’s diners to the unique flavours of territories previously unexplored by Indian cuisine in the UK.”