La Porte des Indes, the chic restaurant in West London, specialising in regional cuisines of India with a French twist.
Says chef Shiren Alexander who, with husband Mehernosh Mody, is cooking up a culinary storm in London.
Finally, the UK seems to have moved beyond the chicken tikka curry and poppadum. La Porte des Indes, the chic restaurant in West London, specialising in regional cuisines of India with a French twist (you heard right!), has quietly and quickly managed to whip up a storm in the 11 years of its existence.
It has already won several awards including the AA Rosette for culinary excellence, has featured in UK Restaurant Top 30 list two years in a row and has been covered by most mainstream dailies, magazines, radio stations and TV channels there.
Run by husband-wife chef duo Sherin Alexander and Mehernosh Mody, both one-time sous chefs at the Taj Mahal Palace & Towers in Mumbai and protégées of culinary genius Hemant Oberoi, the restaurant (whose first branch is in Brussels) is the brainchild of Karl Steppe, the founder of the Blue Elephant Group and an antiquarian specialising in the arts and crafts of Southern and Southern East Asia.
So what’s so hot about this restaurant? “The ability to be different in a market that’s constantly changing, experimenting with new and evolved styles of cooking, including the use of high quality seasonal ingredients and produce. La Porte des Indes is truly unique in its sense of concept,” says Sherin Alexander, who is also the executive director of Blue Elephant.
Of course, the real clincher is the Indian flavour that’s sweeping every market in the West today, be it fashion or food. “Indian food is highly fashionable and definitely high in demand,” agrees Sherin.
A 300-seater spread over two levels with a cascading waterfall and a carved marble staircase with pink sandstone balustrades, it has become a the most sought after hotspots for high-profile Indo-west events. “Several launch parties, including that of musicals like ‘Far Pavilions’ and ‘Bombay Dreams’, have been held here,” informs Sherin.
So, any plans to come to come back to India? “There are no concrete plans as of now. But if we find a suitable partner and if a great opportunity presents itself, then definitely,” she says, adding that La Porte… is making its debut in Bangkok next year.
g_sheree@dnaindia.net
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