Benares celebrates 10th anniversary

This summer Benares, one of the world’s most prestigious Indian restaurants, celebrates its 10th anniversary with a nostalgic menu of the most popular dishes over the past decade. Priced at £78 per person, the menu will be available from 3rd June to mid September and will showcase some of chef patron Atul Kochhar’s best loved, signature dishes. Since opening in May 2003, on London’s Berkeley Square, Benares has gone from strength to strength. Kochhar opened the restaurant following his success at Tamarind, where he was the first Indian chef to win a coveted Michelin Star in 2001. Kochhar was awarded the accolade for a second time, when Benares earned its star in 2007.

Never complacent with the quality of his work, Kochhar has been instrumental in redefining the perception of Indian cooking in Britain with his boldly flavoured, contemporary cooking. Over the last 10 years, he has constantly strived for originality in his menus at Benares, combining his Indian heritage with his love of British ingredients to create unique and innovative cuisine. Iconic dishes that will be available include: karara kekda aur lagosta (crispy soft shell crab, Atul’s signature peri-peri lobster cocktail, baby watercress); tandoori ratan (fennel infused lamb chop, mustard marinated king prawn); and meen moilee (pan-roasted wild sea bass, vermicelli, coconut and curry leaf sauce). A vegetarian menu option will also be available.

Kochhar’s vision and creativity has seen Benares’ events calendar flourish. During Chef Season in 2012, Benares opened its kitchen to guest chefs including Richard Corrigan and Ken Hom who collaborated with Kochhar to host fusion cuisine dinners. The recently launched Benares Blend series invites London’s best mixologists to the Benares Bar to create and demonstrate a unique cocktail in a masterclass. Since a re-design in 2010, the restaurant now boasts a Chef’s Table, ‘Sommelier’s Table’, and impressive private dining facilities.

As Benares success has grown, Kochhar’s public profile has risen in equal measure. Now firmly established as one of the UK’s best known chefs, he makes regular television appearances on popular food programmes such as Saturday Kitchen, Masterchef and Great British Menu. In March 2013, he published his fourth book, Atul’s Curries of the World, which features a collection of over 100 curry recipes from his native India, as well as from Asia, Africa, the Americas, Europe and even the UK.

The Benares 10th anniversary menu will be priced at £78 per person. For bookings, please call Benares on 020 7629 8886 or email [email protected].
benaresrestaurant.com