Opened 20th September
Last week, Ravinder Bhogal who is probably best known for her articles, books and TV appearances – as well as a series of successful residencies launched her debut restaurant on Marylebone’s Blandford Street. Jikoni, meaning ‘kitchen’ in Swahili, will draw on Ravinder’s mixed heritage and travels, with flavours and culinary traditions from Britain, East Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. As Chef Patron, she’s teamed up with restaurateur Ratnesh Bagdai, who has been with Caprice restaurants, Hix, Brindisa and many more.
The team won the hotly contested site from Portman Estate on Blandford Street earlier this year and are extremely excited to open their local restaurant in what they see as one of central London’s “true neighbourhood areas with a friendly pavement culture”. The space was designed in a collaboration lead by London studio, Creative Family, and taken inspiration from the maternal kitchens of Ravinder’s childhood.
The menu will include;
• Ravinder’s signature scotch eggs, including a “Prawn Toast quail scotch egg with Banana Ketchup and Pickled Cucumber”, and “Goan inspired pork scotch egg served with Tomato and Ginger Chutney and Carrot Achaar”.
• Small plates are an Indian take on the American ‘sloppy joe’ made with Herdwick mutton keema, pickled onions and mint chutney
• Larger dishes include a spiced up shepherd’s pie and home ground “Ras Hal Hanout Lamb served with Mujadarra”.
• There will also be a daily changing rice plate featuring curries of the world including Kuku Paka – a chicken curry from Kenya made to a family recipe.
Restaurant Property acted on behalf of the Portman Estate on this letting.
Jikoni
19-21 Blandford Street
Marylebone
London
W1U 3DH