Restaurateur critical of Government policy and 'media panic'

Dev Biswal, the chef-owner of the multi award-winning Ambrette restaurants in Margate and Canterbury, has introduced takeaway menus for the first time in its 10-year history.

The Ambrette restaurants have also announced a number of special promotional offers in response to the Government recommendation the public avoid visiting restaurants.

Biswal has also postponed his planned launch of Ambrette Tours to take small parties on gastro trips to Indian from the end of the year.

Ambrette is partnering with Deliveroo for customers to have fine Indian meals delivered to their homes.  The menus include starters such as Baby monkfish tail grilled with tandoori spices, Saddle of lamb in a pickling marinade and Crispy Dosa with vegetables and Masala potatoes.

Mains, which come with a rice, poppadum, salad and seasonal vegetables, include Slow Goat stroganoff with Indian spices, Oriental style Chicken thighs with ginger, lemongrass and coconut milk and Rolled seabass in a Kerala style moilee sauce.

Puddings feature Lemon bavarois and Coconut and saffron cheesecake.

“The Ambrette has never offered takeaways, because my style of cooking and presentation could never survive transportation, so I've developed new dishes that travel,” said Biswal, “Having read the industry reports which all predict significant growth  the delivery market, it's something I'd been given serious thought to for some time.

“The crash in footfall surrounding the media panic around Corvid-19, means I've just brought those plans forward.”

The Ambrette has also announced a number of promotions to enable the two restaurants to remain open, for staff to keep working and support suppliers.

It's £50 and £20 restaurant gift vouchers will now remain valid for 24 months and have been reduced in price by 50%.

The cost of the popular Prosecco Lunch for Two has been discounted from £70 to £40.  The Prosecco Menu for Two, normally priced at £100, is now only £55.  The Two Course Lunch for Two, has been cut from £35 to just £27.  The six-course Tasting Menu for Two has been discounted from £120 to £65.

Biswal is critical of what he sees as an unnecessary media panic and the Government's policy of recommending the public avoid restaurants, whilst not actually instructing them to close – which would trigger business disruption clauses on company insurance policies.  

“The Government seem willing to force thousands of small business into bankruptcy to protect the interests of wealthy 'Names' [underwriters] at Lloyd's of London.”

“As someone with elderly parents and young children I am deeply concerned about those at risk from the Corona virus – but the media panic and governments responses worldwide seem to be an over-reaction.  

Biswal believes the economic consequences may cause more casualties than the disease.

“Each death is a tragedy, but according to Public Health England, seasonal 'flu can kill more than 20,000 people each winter in the UK – is this any worse?”

Full menu details at www.theambrette.co.uk

Editors' Notes:

Dev Biswal grew up in Orissa, was educated in Calcutta and trained at the Dubai Sheraton, before moving to London, aged 26 in 2003 for spells at Mangoes and Eriki. He became a partner in The Indian Princess in Margate in December 2006, becoming patron and rebranding it as The Ambrette in 2010. His second restaurant, in Rye, opened in November 2011.  His restaurants are recommended by all the country's top restaurant guides, including Michelin, AA, Good Food and Harden's.  Dev was the resident chef on Channel 4 TV's 'Superscrimpers', showing how to prepare gourmet meals on a budget. Other awards received by The Ambrette have included. 'Best Restaurant' at the coveted Taste of Kent Awards; 'Best Indian Restaurant' by Morrisons magazine; 'Best Restaurant in the South East' by the Cobra Good Curry Guide. He was named Asian Chef of the Year at the Asian Restaurant Awards in 2019.

The Ambrette, 14-15 Beer Cart Lane, Canterbury, Kent CT1 2NY

T: 01227 200 777

The Ambrette, 10 Fort Hill, Kent CT9 1QE

T: 01843 231 504

The Devil in Rye, 6 High Street, Rye, East Sussex TN31 7JF

T: 01797 200 777

www.theambrette.co.uk

Media Contact: 

Photos, recipes and menus available.  To review contact

George Shaw at Avocado Media T: 01892 750851 M: 07860 695555  

E : geo@avocadomedia.co.uk