insideKENT Magazine Restaurant Guide 2015 | Seite 6

Welcome
I was delighted to be invited to write the foreword
for the 2015 insideKENT Restaurant Guide. 2014
was a big year for me as I opened my third
restaurant, Sindhu by Atul Kochhar at the
Macdonald Compleat Angler hotel in Marlow, but
I think my proudest moment was when my Petts
Wood restaurant, Indian Essence was awarded a
coveted Bib Gourmand by Michelin.
It is really encouraging to see restaurants in this
great part of England being recognised in this way
and putting the county firmly on the UK’s foodie
map.
I was initially drawn to Kent because I have been
sourcing my fruit and vegetables from suppliers in
the area for a long time, and over the years I have
developed good relationships with these
producers, so I wanted to support them locally.
I also have family living in Kent so I was often
visiting the area and was keen to bring my style of
Indian cooking to the county. I really felt that my
food would be a positive addition to the food
scene and I am so delighted by how much Indian
Essence has been embraced by its local
customers.
I love having a restaurant in Kent as it offers a
great escape from the hustle and bustle of central
London where my other restaurant is. I find the
beautiful greenery of the landscape and the
fantastic fresh produce so inspiring.
I also enjoy seeing how the restaurant and food
industry has evolved over the time we have been
here. It is really heart-warming to see new and
exciting restaurants opening as well as big names
such as Raymond Blanc supporting the area –
proving that Kent really is a worthy gastronomic
destination.
One of the things I really enjoy is my
masterclasses at Indian Essence, which I hold a
couple of times a year, as I get to cook with lots of
interesting people who always fill me in on th