Sameer Taneja returns to Benares as executive chef

18 September 2019 by
Sameer Taneja returns to Benares as executive chef

Sameer Taneja has returned to the role of executive chef at Benares, the Michelin-starred restaurant in London's Mayfair.

He was executive chef of the Indian restaurant 2011-15, followed by the same role at Talli Joe in Seven Dials until last year (the restaurant closed earlier this year) and had been working as a chef consultant since.

Taneja will launch new à la carte and tasting menus at the main restaurant, as well as the bar from next month, with a focus on seafood and fish. Dishes will include: baked scallop Malabar; hiran ki chaap (venison cutlet spiced with juniper garam masala and kutchumber rose); and sea bream cured in aam panna tiger milk, avocado and masala boondi.

He said: "I am delighted to return and to put my humble yet progressive mark on the menu at a famed institution such as Benares and introduce our guests to new flavours and dishes."

An express thali lunch menu will also be offered for £33 including a drink Monday through Friday.

Originally from Delhi, Taneja also previously worked as a sous chef at Koffmann's at the Berkeley hotel, Brasserie Joël at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge and chef saucier at the three-Michelin-starred Waterside Inn in Bray, Berkshire.

The restaurant was launched by chef-patron Atul Kochhar in 2003, however Kochhar parted ways with the restaurant last year following a Twitterstorm over controversial comments he made on the social media platform.

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