opening at the Monohaus development in London Fields in October, will be a reflection of Ivan's 15-year exploration of food cultures and sustainability practices around the world. The menu will be British but with international influences and nods to the flavours of his childhood. It'll also be constantly evolving but you can expect dishes like morel har gow, brown crab tikka masala, and pickled cockle flatbread. He'll also be doing reimagined versions of old faves, like his fermented potato waffle and his fish fillet.
When Americans think of British food, they may think of fish and chips, shepherd's pie, or the full English breakfast. These are indeed classics, but the depth of British cuisine goes much further. As a Brit, I've grown up with these foods being a part of everyday life. It's easy to forget that dishes commonly known to you can be barely known anywhere else. This is why I wanted to create a list of U.K. dishes that fly under the radar.
Many British comfort foods and rustic, classic dishes do tend to rely on umami flavors, good cheese, and a touch of stodginess - yes. But food culture is an ever-changing thing, and UK tastes have often been geared towards spice. Current ideas of British food as having zero spice probably come from austerity after World War II with a touch of historical snobbery and a pinch of religiously motivated pseudoscience thrown in for good measure.
The beauty of a full English breakfast is the variety of tastes and textures all found on a singular plate. While it's not a light meal by any means, it's a substantial and filling way to start the day - so it's no surprise that John Lennon favored the hearty meal that would keep him full throughout his time at protests, rehearsal, or in the studio.
Lisa Goodwin-Allen stated, "I can't wait to open the doors to Rosi, it's been a joy working with Stuart, Brendan and Jozef to help create my London home. Rosi is a restaurant where the menu is full of dishes you really want to eat, and the atmosphere is just as inviting. I hope Rosi will be embraced by Londoners, just as I have been."
"I'm so excited to be taking on the next stage of my career within the Tom Kerridge Group and opening a new site. Tom has taught me so much about proper gastropub dining and what it is to create truly brilliant food within the context of a pub menu - I can't wait to bring everything I've learned to Chelsea for The Chalk Freehouse."