There's a local restaurant called
La Casa Bistró , and the chef contacted me to do an Indian food festival.Had a meeting at the beginning of June, sent him about 40 dishes we could possibly make, and never thought much more about it. He contacted me when I returned from Atlanta and was very enthusiastic, so another meeting today. I rummaged through the freezer and took him some samosas, pakoras and vadas, plus my tamarind chutney, green mango chutney and Chettinad garlic pickle, just so he could try.
Surprise, surprise, there was another chef there for breakfast - a rising star, apparently -
Issam Koteich - Cordero, so we all had breakfast together. Eggs, arepas, fresh cheese, homemade butter, crispy bacon,and a slice of sous-vide pork loin (yes, I know, I'm not really a meat eater) which was absolutely phenomenal. Lots of enthusiasm for the Indian festival, and Issam, who worked in Dubai for 10 years and is a super fan of Indian food, thought everything was divine.
Menu to be decided today or tomorrow, and we start practising Monday!