Alfred Prasad leaves Tamarind Collection
Alfred Prasad, director of cuisine and executive chef at restaurant group Tamarind Collection,
is to leave after 13 years as he sets into motion plans to open his own London eaterie.
Prasad, originally from Chennai in southern India, joined Tamarind of Mayfair in 2001 as a sous chef and became head chef when Atul Kochhar left in 2002. He maintained the restaurant's Michelin star until 2009 and won it back again in 2010.
that showcases more of the cuisine of the region of India he comes from.
"In the 13 years I have been at Tamarind it has been fantastic because London is now considered a destination for Indian food across the world, but I still look at what most London restaurants do as the tip of the iceberg and there is so much more to offer, rather than the same tikka masala, rogan josh and
jalfrezi," Prasad told The Caterer.
"I want to showcase a much wider representation of Indian cuisine. I hail from the south of the country and the direction that the owners of Tamarind seem to be keen to head towards is north west Indian."
Prasad is currently in India on a research and sourcing trip, and in addition to planning a recipe book, he is examining opportunities to open in London. The chef has not yet identified a site for his new venture, although he is looking and is in talks with a number of potential investors. His aim is to select a business partner by February, with a view to opening his new restaurant by the end of the year.
"I have had opportunities to do a concept in other cities, but I have been adamant to do something with my name above the door in London first, having been in the city for 15 years," he said. "If things go well, we can look at taking that to other cities."
In a statement, Rahul Khanna, part-owner and head of business development of Tamarind Collection, said: "It is always hard to say farewell to someone who has been both a friend and colleague for so long, but we wish him every success in all his future endeavours."
Peter Joseph, who began his career at Tamarind of Mayfair in 2006 as sous chef and went on to become head chef of Tamarind in 2012, continues to head the kitchen at Tamarind of Mayfair.
