Irvine Company has announced that a highly acclaimed restaurant from London will open its first U.S. location this summer at Crystal Cove Promenade in Newport Coast. Tamarind of London, a sister restaurant to the Michelin-starred Tamarind in London’s Mayfair, will serve Indian favorites as well as innovative and modern seasonal dishes in an upscale casual atmosphere.
Tamarind’s dishes are derived from traditional Moghul cuisine where bread, fish, meat and game are cooked in the authentic tandoor oven style of North West India. Executive Chef Alfred Prasad, the youngest Indian chef to ever receive a Michelin star, applies a creative twist to these dishes. Prasad notes about his cuisine, “I treat original Indian dishes with only the most delicate touches, adding a zing but largely retaining their originality. I balance creativity with authenticity as much as possible to give our patrons the feel of great Indian food that hasn’t been spoiled by modern versions of it.”
“Tamarind’s food is a world of flavor. It is a new enlightenment for those who thought they knew Indian food,” said Randall Hiatt, President of Fessel International, a Costa Mesa-based restaurant consulting firm.
As noted Chef Gordon Ramsay said: “The food (Tamarind) turns out is a million miles from standard chicken tikka masala fare. There aren’t many Indian restaurants where you’ll see sea bass, scallops or squid on the menu, and the spicing is so delicate that the individual flavors really come through.”
The 144-seat restaurant will boast a beautiful contemporary Indian interior design and patio. It will feature a blend of India’s rich design legacy and the resort feeling of Crystal Cove Promenade.
“For more than 15 years, Tamarind has been an exceptional restaurant in London and has helped change perceptions of Indian cuisine,” said Keith Eyrich, President of Irvine Company Retail Properties. “Newport Beach has a proven track record for launching new and exclusive concepts to the local diner and we feel this is an ideal addition to Crystal Cove Promenade.”
Posted on 03/25/11 by Allison
