Still one of my preferred London restaurants, my impression of Chef Vivek Singh’s Cinnamon Kitchen has been favourably coloured by my House of Holi experience.
Returning to Cinnamon Kitchen for a third vibrant year, House of Holi opens to the public today adding a fluorescent flourish to Devonshire Square with purpose-built pod set up outside the restaurant in Devonshire Square where willing participants can let loose with paint throwing festivities that mark Holi, the Indian festival of colour.
It’s a bright idea – especially when paired with a five-course menu designed specifically for the occasion. I had a blast playing in the pod during a media preview this week, and then after a quick clean up I enjoyed equal measures of yummy fun tucking in to Singh’s Holi menu. Highlights from that meal were many. I loved every bite.
A sample of the Holi menu reads as such:
- Lentil stuffed wheat bread with yoghurt, tamarind and pomegranate;
- Grilled Kentish lamb escalopes with black stone flower and smoked paprika raita;
- Tandoori mushroom with mustard greens and chickpea bread;
- King prawns in coconut and cardamom curry with ghee rice;
- Carrot samosa, pistachio burfi and fig-semolina halwa.
Cinnamon Kitchen’s sidekick bar, Anise, was in on the action too during my visit serving amplified cocktails such as the Holika Fire (Appleback, fresh lime, homemade grenadine) and the Neela Heera (Broker’s gin, Maraschino liquer, Crème Yvette and fresh lemon).
The House of Holi runs until 12 March 2016 (actual date of Holi this year is 23 March). Tickets are priced at £8 per person, or £15 per person including a Holi-inspired cocktail and traditional canapés. Holi session plus five-course menu is priced at £38 per person. The whole pod can be hired for groups of up to 30 for £400, including arrival cocktail and canapés.
Cinnamon Kitchen is located at 9 Devonshire Square, EC2M 4YL. Find out more at cinnamon-kitchen.com.
