This fresh concept from restauranteur Marvin Agustin highlights authentic Indian cuisine with a modern British edge by two of London’s best Indian chefs
It was never on the agenda of London-based chefs Kundan “Kun” Singh Rawat and Kapil Dividas Jogdand to open a restaurant on the other side of the world. However, their biggest Filipino fan proved to be persistent and tenacious. Restauranteur Marvin Agustin (Cochi, Kondwi) admitted that a visit to the chefs’ Tandoor Chophouse at Convent Garden is always a top priority when he is in London. “It is always my first stop as soon as I arrive,” he confesses, “or the first thing I do the next day. Whatever my agenda is in London, I always make sure to have a few meals in their restaurant.”
Agustin loves their food so much that as far back as 2016 he made it a point to meet the chefs during a London trip and somehow convinced them to collaborate with him in opening an Indian restaurant in Manila. Tango Tandoor is the result of that collaboration, which is authentic Indian in the sense that these are recipes by Indian chefs, yet with modern inspirations reflective of their own personal innovations and a penchant for fresh, seasonal ingredients. Chef Kun was born in Punjab, and while he is a master of traditional tandoor cooking techniques, his style has always veered towards innovation. He has worked in some of the world’s best Indian restaurants, such as the Michelin-starred Amaya in London and Prithvi Cafe in Mumbai. Chef Kapil has also worked with the likes of Great British Menu judge Oliver Peyton and was awarded Best Hardworking Chef during his stint at the Hilton in Trafalgar Square.
Confidently armed with knowledge of their cuisine and a thirst for adventure, it was not a tedious task when Agustin asked them to come up with an Indian menu that was both authentic and relatable to the Filipino market. “Sharing our culture and love of food to teach Filipino chefs is a great privilege for us,” says chef Kapil. The chefs admit that sourcing Indian ingredients has proven to be a challenge, but the exciting and diverse menu at Tango Tandoor shows they are up to the task.
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