Atul Kochhar to launch Benares in Madrid

Michelin-starred chef Atul Kochhar will be launching his Indian restaurant Benares in the Spanish capital next month.

It will be a spin-off of his Mayfair restaurant of the same name.

Kochhar, who was the first Indian chef in the UK to be awarded a Michelin star in 2001, is said to be opening the new restaurant in the upmarket street of Zurbano.

The chef has posted links on his Facebook page about the new venture. "I'm going to enjoy playing with the tapas concept drawing influence from street food from all across India," he said.

The colonial-style restaurant promises to transport diners to the banks of the Ganges. "I was born in east India, moved with my family to north India and studied in south India so I take influence from all over. It's more pan-Indian but it also takes into account locally grown produce, so Madrid will be different to my other restaurants," he said.

Kochhar will also use pork and beef in the Madrid restaurant, meats he has not previously used in London.

"It's a chance to get a bit more into the Spanish mindset," he said.

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