The chef from London's 'mostly vegan' eatery Tendril is set to unveil a new café at Somerset House in May.
Rishim Sachdeva is launching Café Petiole, a 27-seat ‘plant-first' establishment featuring all-day dining options and a selection of homemade condiments available for takeout.
Situated just off the Edmond J Safra Fountain Court, Café Petiole will complement the offerings of Skye Gyngell's Spring restaurant and WatchHouse coffee, enhancing the culinary landscape at Somerset House.
Named after the botanical term for the connecting stalk between a plant stem and its leaf, Café Petiole's menu is a collaboration between Sachdeva and Tendril's pastry chef, Tarryn Williams.
Café Petiole's offerings will feature delights such as salted piquillo peppers paired with coriander salsa and ancho chili dressing, blue corn tostadas adorned with smoked artichokes and lime puree, and a tantalising lemon and poppy seed cake accompanied by black pepper curd.
The beverage selection at Café Petiole will be entirely vegan, featuring options like kombucha and low-intervention European wines served on tap.
'This is a whole new concept and brand for me, and to be launching at a venue I've loved since my first visit to London all those years ago is an incredible honour, and we are super grateful to our friends at Somerset House for the opportunity,' said Sachdeva.
Williams added: 'Petiole is such an exciting new chapter for us and for plant-based food in London, and I'm so proud to be collaborating on this project.
'From my perspective, a platform in London for incredible vegan baking and desserts is a space that still needs filling, and we are here to do exactly that with Café Petiole.'