Seasoned restaurateurs Cyrus and Pervin Todiwala and premium event caterers Life’s Kitchen have announced a new partnership designed to bring the Todiwalas’ renowned Indian cuisine to the City of London’s historic banqueting venues and livery halls.
Launched at an intimate dinner held last Tuesday, 28th March 2017 at Painters’ Hall, the venture will be known as ‘Mr Todiwala in the City’ and build on Chef Cyrus Todiwala OBE DL’s reputation for creating both imaginative, ground-breaking and classical Indian dishes, together with Life Kitchen’s experience providing bespoke event catering solutions in the City.
For the past 22 years, the Todiwalas have owned and operated Café Spice Namaste, their much acclaimed flagship restaurant in the City, now the longest standing Michelin BIB restaurant. Their eclectic and loyal clientele include City stalwarts from the worlds of banking, finance, law and insurance. Life’s Kitchen is owned and managed by Chef Dave Pay and Managing Director Nick Levens, who both made their mark running the catering operations and kitchens, respectively, for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Theatre Group. Now their 12-year old company are caterers at such prestigious City venues as Guildhall, Pewterers’ Hall, Tallow Chandlers’ Hall, the aforementioned Painters’ Hall, and the Museum of London.
Cyrus and Pervin TodiwalaAmong the canapés served at the pre-dinner cocktail reception were Twisted Haggis Samosas, Goosnargh Duck Sausage on Keralan Mash, Grilled Spiced Tiger Shrimp in Coconut Broth, and Saffron and Lime Cured Salmon and Fresh Coriander Blinis. The four-course dinner featured a starter of Sweet Potato and Squash Veloute with Duck Confit and Crispy Onions, a second course of Masala Grilled Haddock Fillet with Sliced Cumin Potato, and a main course of Jardaloo Ma Murghi, classic Parsee-style chicken marinated lightly and slow cooked in a Hunza Apricot flavoured tomato-based sauce. For dessert, guests were offered a Mango Posset, with Papaya Cream and Char-grilled Pineapple.
Cyrus Todiwala, a founding member of the Guild of Entrepreneurs, said, ‘Pervin and I are delighted that our partnership with Life’s Kitchen has the potential to bring our brand of Indian cuisine to a wider audience. Having run Café Spice Namaste in the City of London for over two decades, we feel very much a part of the city’s fabric. This has enabled us to develop a good instinct for matching and often exceeding the expectations of those who are used to the highest standards of cuisine.
‘This is an ethos we share with Dave and Nick, and we know that working with these consummate professionals, we will now be able to scale up our offering to as many as 300 people in some of London’s great livery and banqueting halls.’
Nick Levens, who has managed single and multi-site catering operations in four countries, said, ‘Our ethos at Life’s Kitchen is a love of food with a sense of occasion. ‘Mr Todiwala in the City’ is a meeting of not just minds but hearts – everyone knows about Chef Cyrus’ passion for excellence and his obsession for great ingredients, for the best produce and his uncompromising approach to quality. We are proud to be part of an offering that carries his name.
‘Also, our teams work very well together, as our successful launch attended by some key decision makers attests. This bodes well for a very good future ahead for our partnership.’