Latest news with #Swadish
The Herald Scotland
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Review: Grilled by Ajay Kumar brings new heat to Glasgow
Or perhaps you'd be familiar with him from dining at the 2 AA Rosette-awarded restaurant, Swadish by Ajay Kumar, a few minutes down the road. Even without the ability to put a name to the face, the way he mingles confidently with a trio of customers outside while wearing a suave, black chef's jacket leaves little room for doubt. This guy is running the show, and proud of it. Pictured: Grilled by Ajay Kumar on West Regent Street in Glasgow (Image: Newsquest) Inside, the space hasn't changed all that much from its previous incarnation as Meat Bar, with the exposed brick walls, wooden beams and sets of orange leather booths wrapped around a large bar area. It suits the contemporary flair of Kumar's Indian dishes, letting the aroma of spice and the sizzling sounds emanating from the kitchen assure you that this is different from the other basement bars and restaurants that occupy similar units in town, rather than relying on decor. Midweek, there are just a few other tables occupied tonight, but that's having little impact on the relaxed vibe at Grilled. The booths add an element of privacy, and I reckon it's the kind of place you could easily nip in for a solo meal without feeling awkward. Read more: Orders in, a pale rosé wine (£7.50) and pint of Cobra (£5.50) poured, and the nuggets of prawn koliwada (£12) are a promising start, coated in crisp, spiced batter and served with glorious tamarind and jaggery aioli that has a well-measured touch of sweetness. Pictured: A small plate of Prawn Koliwada (Image: Newsquest) A vada pav slider (£6) takes a more refined approach to the Indian street food staple, with a deep-fried potato dumpling popped into a mini brioche bun. A fresh coriander and mint relish has lost its way a little among such dense, doughy carbs, but it's a fun veggie-friendly starter. Pictured: Vada pav slider with brioche bun, garlic chutney, and fresh coriander-mint relish (Image: Newsquest) Reneging on our decision to skip the poppadoms (£5) at the very last minute was the right move. The table would feel naked without them, and bites of wafer-thin crisp topped with sweet, pickled carrot, mango chutney, and spiced onions tie one course to the next as starter plates are cleared and replaced with the main event. Pictured: Poppadoms with spiced onion, mango chutney and pickled carrots (Image: Newsquest) A bold testament to Kumar's vision for his new restaurant, there's an entire menu section dedicated to meat skewers in various spice mixes and marinades cooked over a searing hot grill. They are made to order and served as they're ready. With our choice of tandoori chicken tikka with mint chutney (£14), there's no faulting the chef's pitch-perfect blend of seasoning that clings to generously sized chunks of chicken. Pictured: Charred tandoori chicken tikka with mint chutney from the 'Taste the Grill' menu section (Image: Newsquest) But where is that whack of charred flavour and extra texture I'd expected the much lauded grill to bring to the party? There's a hint of it right on the edges of the skewer, where flame has been allowed to lick at the meat and marinade until it takes on a new dimension of smoky goodness, but ultimately, this dish is just a few seconds of cooking short of the rustic, BBQ-like experience promised. Read more: Ordered out of sheer curiosity, a small silver pot of grilled fermented hot chilli and garlic chutney (£1) looks deadly, but in measured doses, adds an invigorating, bitter punch to forkfuls of grilled chicken. It also leads to some dinnertime entertainment, as my partner slowly turns darker shades of red after spooning an ambitious amount of the potent dip onto his final bite of poppadom. Unless you've got a real penchant for spice, less is more with this fiery little side dish. Pictured: Grilled duck leg vindaloo (Image: Newsquest) I'm a fan of Kumar's Swadish restaurant, so elsewhere a curry from his new menu feels like a safe bet. The duck leg with Portuguese-style vindaloo (£16) is just that, with tender dark meat (also cooked on the grill), a perfect partner for warm spice and bursts of sweetness from plump golden raisins. Though I fear Gaz may have singed his taste buds to the point of no return, we end the evening with desserts of Gulab Jamun (£6) and charcoal kulfi pavlova (£7). Pictured: Charcoal kulfi pavlova with meringue nest, mango and mint coulis and 'ash soil' (Image: Newsquest) A Mars Bar-esque block of kulfi in a vivid shade of green with contrasting stripes of mango and mint coulis and ash soil is a lot to process visually. There's no need to dress up the Gulab Jamun, however, as these deep-fried doughballs swimming in a sticky spiced syrup are plenty tempting with the simple addition of thin grilled pineapple slices. Sugary, comforting and a worthy end to the meal. Pictured: Gulab Jamun with grilled pineapple and spiced caramel (Image: Newsquest) It's very early days for Grilled by Ajay Kumar, but in his latest venture, the chef has brought new energy to an area of the city centre that was crying out for something different. With just a little more firepower, this place could be smoking hot. Menu: A mix of small plates and curries ranging from whole sea bream in tandoori marinade to rogan josh blackened lamb chops. An entire section of the menu is dedicated to meat cooked on the grill. 4/5 Service: Staff keep themselves busy behind the bar, but are attentive and efficient. 3/5 Atmosphere: This basement space feels intimate despite its size, with booths adding an extra element of privacy. Midweek, it's quiet.3/5 Price:. Small plates range from £5 to £12, while the most expensive curry on the menu will set you back £22. Grilled skewers are priced between £12 and £16. 4/5 Food: Prawn Koliwada and duck leg vindaloo are excellent, but I want more from the all-important grill. 7/10 Total: 21/30 Grilled by Ajay Kumar is located at 142 West Regent Street in Glasgow.
Glasgow Times
01-08-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
New restaurant to bring Tamil flavours from across globe to Glasgow
Tharany told the Glasgow Times: "I've always admired my mums cooking; she taught me everything and I wanted to create something that celebrates Tamil food in all its forms. "I want everyone to have the experience I had with my mum." READ NEXT: Glasgow chef behind Swadish to open new city centre restaurant (Image: GordonTerris/Herald&Times) Tharany says while her family are Sri Lankan Tamils, her mum lived in Singapore when she was younger while Tharany spent time in Malaysia, meaning they got to know more about Tamil cuisine from those areas. She says focusing on Tamil dishes from Sri Lanka, India, Singapore, Malaysia and Africa will make their restaurant "completely different" from other Asian eateries in the city. The 26-year-old said: "I learnt all those recipes and I came home, and my mum had that experience in Singapore and when we were growing up she always incorporated Tamil food from Sri Lanka, India and Singapore. "Tamils are everywhere, and we have such a huge love for food, vibrant colours, dance and culture. "However, when we open up restaurants its always Indian or Sri Lankan and we kind of fizzle off as a small minority. "There's never really been a restaurant that says 'we are Tamil and we're serving Tamil food that's from everywhere'." (Image: GordonTerris/Herald&Times) The Jolly Tamil will be Tharany and Vadani's first venture into the hospitality industry, but Tharany says opening a restaurant with her mum is an idea that was always at the back of her mind due to her mums' cooking skills. They will be serving dishes including Sri Lankan mutton rolls, Puli rice and a signature biryani based on Vadani's recipe. There will also be some less traditional items with a twist, such as a carrot halwa cheesecake. READ NEXT: Popular coffee chain unveils revamped East End store (Image: GordonTerris/Herald&Times) Tharany commented: "I grew up watching my mum cook since I was a child and she never used a recipe book – it was always just intuition and taste. "All these dishes have my mother's touch which is completely authentic with a touch of modernity that I've found. She continued: "My mum makes all of the spices herself. "She won't just go and get packet masala. She'll go get the peppercorn, roast them herself, grind them add them into a blender, sieve it and then she'll get her own spices. "Everything we do is very homemade. She takes a lot of pride in her food." (Image: GordonTerris/Herald&Times) Tharany grew up in Essex before moving to Edinburgh to study chemical engineering at Herriot Watt University. She moved to Glasgow two years ago, and says she loves the city's appreciation of food, making it the perfect spot to open a restaurant. She said: "Everyone's a big foodie over here. "There's always something different, so imaginative, so creative and that's what I love. "I want a place that can really appreciate my innovation when I make cool specials." She added: "I know it's a gamble but it's a risk I'm willing to take because I know our food is good. "I'm excited for everyone to try something I've always wanted them to try. "Having that happen is kind of like a dream come true." The Jolly Tamil is located at 95 Kilmarnock Road, Glasgow. It will be open Wednesday to Monday.
Glasgow Times
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow chef behind Swadish to open new city centre restaurant
Ajay Kumar, who owns Swadish on Ingram Street, will open Grilled by Ajay Kumar on Wednesday, July30. The new eatery will open on West Regent Street, with Ajay describing the venture as his "soul on a plate" and "something special". Grilled is "inspired by the grills of India" and "celebrates meat in its most glorious form". READ NEXT: The story behind the award-winning Indian restaurant in Glasgow Announcing the news on Instagram, Ajay wrote: "This isn't just another restaurant. This is my soul on a plate. "Every smoky glaze, every charred edge, every spice blend tells a story I've been waiting to share. "Swadish will always be my first love. A place where so many of you became family. "Now, it's time to welcome a bold new addition to that family. "Grilled is an extension of everything I believe in - deep flavours, honest fire, and unforgettable feasts. "It is raw, rustic, and rooted in flame." Swadish opened in 2019 and has won several awards, including being crowned Best Restaurant in Scotland at the British Curry Awards in 2022.
