Our first Business Traveller event of the decade took place in January at Kahani restaurant close to Sloane Square in Chelsea, London. The event was hosted by Business Traveller editorial director Tom Otley in the restaurant’s private room, but not before a champagne reception at the bar in the main restaurant gave attendees the chance to mingle and relax after the day’s work.
The inspiration for Kahani, which means 'story' in Hindi, comes from chef Peter Joseph’s childhood in Tamil Nadu, the southernmost state of India, where his mother would cook wholesome meals for all the family which were enjoyed over storytelling. Kahani has already made its mark in Chelsea with a Michelin star in its sights. The luxurious and contemporary Indian restaurant is a hidden treasure below street level, close to Sloane Square and opposite the historic Cadogan Hall on Wilbraham Place. It unites Peter’s two home countries; India and England.
Compared with many of our events, this was intimate – just 14 guests, which gave everyone the chance to meet one another over some fabulous food, including vegetarian options and vegan options (it was Veganaury for Tom Otley). The main menu included sharing starters of spiced green pea cake with cumin, ginger and chilli, cranberry chutney and grilled stone bass coated with browned garlic, sundried tomato purée. Main courses were chargrilled chicken, tossed with red onions, tomato, fenugreek leaves and braised lamb, fragrant rice, exotic spices, mint and coriander. Accompaniments included seasonal vegetable with ground spices, coriander and peppercorn and yellow lentils tempered with garlic and cumin. For those that still had room, there were raspberry and mini cheese cakes and sorbets.
