Using local ingredients like freshly grown vegetables, recently procured chicken, fish and mutton from the city markets is the United Kingdom’s celebrated chef Jamie Oliver’s philosophy as far as the art of cooking is concerned. And this will be the mantra of his two recently-launched restaurants – Jamie’s Italian (Vasant Kunj, Delhi) and Jamie’s Pizzeria (Ambience Mall, Gurgaon) and
Even the architecture has been designed to take into account the local culture. This would attract customers to look forward to something new and exciting. Interestingly, the walls are scribbled with drawings and paintings giving the place an artistic touch.
“Serving fresh food in all respects – ingredients and condiments – will be the unique selling point of our restaurants. Even dough will be freshly made before serving customers. We are not going to preserve them in refrigerator. Jamie also insisted that the food needs to be cooked in a manner that customers feel at home,” says Alexander Troghton, marketing manager for Jamie’s India.
Since Jamie even instructed that the restaurants need to have a different kind of décor, worn out doors have been used and they give an old world charm to the place.
Speaking about the food, Jasper Reid, spokesperson for Jamie Oliver’s restaurants in India, says, “In our Pizzeria, we have introduced Jamie’s Delhi Hot which uses our secret chilli freak sauce mixed with our pasta. This is topped with crushed tomatoes, mutton meatballs, mozzarella and chilli. Our wild mushroom crostini is made with a creamy mushroom sauce, rocket leaves, chilli, parsley and wild mushrooms.”
Celebrated Chef Bakul Kodikal has been roped in as Brand Chef for Jamie Oliver restaurant group in India. To understand what all Jamie does before preparing his dish, Bakul has undergone training at Jamie’s Italian at Brighton and Jamie’s Pizzeria at Cambridge.
Though Jamie Oliver could not make it to the launch, he is nevertheless thrilled that his restaurant brands have now opened up in the Capital. The high-street Jamie’s Italian, which has over 50 restaurants across the world, and Jamie’s Pizzeria with two sustainable eating restaurant brands abroad. Both his brands in India are being promoted by a joint venture between International Market Management, a London investment company and Delhi’s Carnation Hospitality.
Jamie’s Pizzeria was founded in the old Library in the Centre of Cambridge. Currently there are two sites in the UK (Oxford and Cambridge) serving traditional Italian Pizza’s, sides and desserts.
