FOOD & DRINK W H AT ’ S M A K I N G T H E G O U R M E T N E W S I N B R I S T O L
TAKE FIVE
Our regular quick Q&A with the people making foodie news in the city right now. Up for this issue: it’s Raja from Nutmeg
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wning an innovative Indian restaurant has been a long-cherished dream for Raja Munuswamy, who along with Charlotte Brown, has recently opened Nutmeg in Clifton. Has it been a success? Put it this way; on the weekday night we visited, there were more eager diners than free tables . . . So Raja, what makes Nutmeg special? We’re proud of our culinary heritage. Nutmeg brings the 29 states of India into one menu, highlighting the cuisine and diversity of each state. Describe Nutmeg in five words… A reflection of incredible India. Who created that colourful décor? Rob and Sophie Whelan at Graft Workshop created the beautiful mural, Whittaker Wells provided wallpaper throughout the restaurant, and Harshinder – a local artist –created the paintings. Where do you source your ingredients? Meat is sourced from Ruby and White butchers, fish is sourced from Charles Sanders and Bristol Sweet Mart provide our fruit, vegetables and grains. 72 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
What was your first culinary influence? Food and cooking was part of daily life from an early age, but Keith Floyd was my first culinary influence. I used to watch him on the Discovery travel channel when growing up in India, and that’s when I started to see cooking as an art rather than a chore. What’s your favourite dish on the current menu? Beef Madras, Sharabi Jhinga, Hyderabadi Lamb Biryani – to name a few. We hear you’re planning to shake up the menu in 2017 – can you tell us a bit about that? We intend to keep our current menu, and in addition to this we’re going to pick 12 states over 2017 to showcase a different state cuisine in a new tasting menu each month. Name another Bristol restaurant that you love... I’m a big fan of the Lido – great food but also very relaxing for just a tea or coffee.
Nutmeg, 10 The Mall, Clifton www.nutmegbristol.com