Peter Joseph
Peter
Biography
Peter Joseph, Chef Patron of Kahani, grew up in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India where from an early age he would get lost amongst street food stalls serving idli sambar, dosa and Pongal. Today, Peter is one of the most progressive Indian chefs in Britain, creating innovative dishes that embrace the strong narratives of Indian history and combining them with modern cooking techniques.
After deciding to embark on a career as a chef, Peter studied at a local catering college where he later gained a Diploma in Hotel Management from the Institute of Hotel Management, India. Following this, Peter went on to gain career-shaping experience across professional kitchens in India, working for the likes of Rakesh Upadhyay (a successful chef and hotelier in India) at ITC Welcomgroup.
Inspired by the rise of Indian cuisine in Britain, in 2004 Peter moved to London and joined Michelin-starred Tamarind of Mayfair as sous chef. Here Peter played a fundamental role in retaining the restaurant’s Michelin-star and successfully led various key events, such as a regular guest chef programme.
One of Peter’s proudest moments to date was being named head chef of the Tamarind Collection in 2012. During his time in this role Peter established himself as one of the foremost Indian chefs in Britain. He steered the restaurant group through a time of expansion, re-launching Zaika to critical acclaim. In 2017, Peter oversaw the launch of Tamarind Kitchen in Soho which focused on deformalising Indian fine dining - a concept close to his heart – and was hugely successful from its opening.
In September 2018, Peter will be embarking on his first solo venture, with the launch of Kahani. Translated to ‘story’ in Hindi, Kahani will see Peter take a bold step away from traditional Indian cooking, to a contemporary culinary style which will showcase seasonal and sustainable British produce. The core philosophy of the restaurant will be centred around Peter’s upbringing of communities using eating occasions to celebrate, bring people together, break boundaries and share tales. The 90-cover restaurant will be located opposite the iconic Cadogan Hall in Chelsea and will focus on grilled meats, fish and vegetables from the robata grill.
Summing up his excitement for Kahani, Peter has commented, “Since coming to London in 2004 it has always been my dream to open my own restaurant. The fact that it is in such an iconic location in London is really humbling – I am ecstatic at embarking on this new chapter in my career. My objective is to give my personal best and strive in the pursuit for excellence in all that I do.I know that the Kahani concept will endeavour to push the boundaries of Indian cuisine and keep innovation at the forefront.
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