Carousel, Marylebone’s revolving creative hub for international guest chef talent, art and culture, has today announced its new line-up of handpicked international chef residencies, as well as experiences and exhibitions, covering the next three months.
Carousel was opened in 2014 by entrepreneurial cousins Ollie, Ed, Will and Anna Templeton, who have ensured that every corner of the impressive three-storey, family-run building on Blandford Street is put to good use.
The airy, open plan first floor gallery provides the perfect launch event, exhibition and workshop space; the street level restaurant and al fresco courtyard hosts Carousel’s revolving international guest chef series and a weekly-changing lunch menu of seasonal small plates; and the deceptively large downstairs space is the ideal venue for events, parties, pop-ups, screenings and performances.
International chef residencies
Collaborating with head chef and co-founder Ollie Templeton and his team, Carousel’s impressive line-up of international guests (a mix of emerging talent and more established names) prepare a set five-course dinner menu (£37.50 per person) that best represents their own unique approach to cooking. Meanwhile, Carousel’s front of house team takes care of drinks pairings and the restaurant’s relaxed and informal dining experience.
Jonas Lagerström from YOLO: 26 July-6 August
Holding the creative reins at the ambitious, Stockholm restaurant, YOLO is chef Jonas Lagerström. Jonas roots his dishes in the local and sustainable produce while equally embracing flavours from further afield in the pursuit of new trends and taste combinations. Guests can expect ‘Bleak roe ‘tacos’ & sweetbreads with yuzu, curry & mandarin’.
Alex Nietosvuori from BROR & ANTE: 9-20 August
Swede Alex Nietosvuori cut his teeth at Sweden’s Michelin-starred Daniel Berlin Krog before heading to Copenhagen to join up with former NOMA sous-chefs Sam Nutter and Victor Wågman at restaurant BROR and ANTE. Dishes such as ‘Egg yolk, peas, pickled chanterelles, smoked pork, chicken skin, brown butter foam & smoked bacon broth’ showcase his innovative take on New Nordic.
Danny & Yesoon Lee from Mandu: 22 August-3 September
The ‘homestyle’ recipes of ‘Mama’ Yesoon’s years’ of experience and son Danny’s more modern approach to traditional Korean cuisine have earned family-run Mandu an army of fans in Washington DC. Signature dishes include Galbi Skewers (barbequed beef short rib served with ssamjang and vegetable leaves).
Niklas Ekstedt from Ekstedt : 6-10 September
At Ekstedt, they cook everything on fire using no gas, no electricity and no gadgets. Resurrecting long-forgotten cooking techniques, the Michelin-starred Stockholm restaurant is famed for elegant and creative dishes such as ‘Iron-cast seared reindeer heart tartare, lingonberries & chantarelles’.
Erik Anderson & Jamie Malone from Brut: 13-24 September
Erik Anderson and Jamie Malone are a formidable culinary couple. Their first joint venture, Brut (Minneapolis), is the culmination of years of work in some of America's most acclaimed restaurants, from The French Laundry (CA) to The Catbird Seat (TN). Expect a modern approach to French cooking 'with a deep respect for the classic technique'.
Complementing evening service, every Tuesday to Saturday, Ollie Templeton and the Carousel home team serve up a weekly-changing lunch menu of seasonal small plates, including the signature ‘Pork Sandwich –Gloucester Old Spot pork belly, house pickles, sriracha mayonnaise & piquillo peppers in a white sourdough panuozzo’.
Alongside its revolving line-up of chef residencies Carousel also curates an eclectic programme of creative experiences in its upstairs and downstairs spaces, bringing a taste of East London’s edgier cultural scene to well-heeled Marylebone.
Carousel’s first floor gallery space has already hosted monthly exhibitions from acclaimed photographers and artists such as Oleg Tolstoy, James O Jenkins and Louise Cattrell. The calibre of August and September’s works are no different.