Studio Kitchen, the restaurant of the trend-setting K West Hotel & Spa in West London, is famous for their innovate and indulgent burgers, the sweet Creme Egg burger being the most notorious. On the mezzanine floor, Studio Kitchen is an informal eatery with an urban New York vibe. Edgy city landscape sketches stretch along the walls, mirrored by a quirky wave of banquet seating hugging the back of the room. Sprinklings of filament light bulbs suspended on individual wires add an abstract, arty feel to the room.
One of the country’s youngest female Head Chefs, 25 year old rising culinary star Rhiannon Ball, has taken the helm of the Studio Kitchen at K West and is in charge of a team of 8 male chefs. For someone so young, Rhiannon has already held the title of Sous Chef at Island Grill in the prestigious Lancaster London hotel and has worked under Head Chef Ian Howard at The Kensington Roof Gardens Babylon restaurant. She is also an ambassador for Apprenticeship Schemes in the UK. Rhiannon’s role models include inspiring female chef Angela Hartnett and John Robinson, her head chef for many years. She is looking forward to revamping Studios Kitchen’s menu to achieve her goal of gaining two Rosettes for the West London restaurant.
On the menu, main courses are divided into three simple sections with something to suit everyone. ‘Meat Fish and Pasta’ offer sumptuous choices from the farm and and ‘Market Salads’ contain healthy options from the field however who can resist the indulgent ‘Sandwiches and Burgers’ section with offerings such as a juicy Buttermilk Chicken Breast Burger with cheese, pickles, spicy mayonnaise, tomato, lettuce; or the Brick Lane Burger with salt beef, cheese, pickles, mustard mayonnaise, tomato, lettuce. Sexy sides include bacon mac ‘n cheese, buttered kale and homemade sweet potato fries.
From 5 to 18 October 2015, Studio Kitchen will play host to a pop-up festival giving Londoners the opportunity to try the very first yield of organic biodynamic wines from Catalonian vineyard, Vins El Cep who will showcase exclusive wines and cavas from the region, accompanied by authentic Catalonian-inspired tapas. Wines and cavas will include Marque de Gelida Blanc de Blancs and Negre Selección 2013 at £6 a glass and Marques de Gelida Exclusive Reserva Brut at £7. The tapas menu offers such delights as Gambas al ajillo (Tiger prawns cooked in butter and garlic) £9; and Calamari con frijoles de mantequilla (Pan-fried squid with butter beans and smoked paprika) £7.
Instead of chocolates on the pillow, Studio Kitchen seemed to prefer putting Love Hearts on their napkins! A quirky touch that raised a smile…
The table was nicely laid out including this exquisite floral decoration.
The hotel’s rock and roll heritage is even celebrated in their afternoon tea offerings!
To whet our appetites the waiter presented us with a selection of breads.
I chose the Chargrilled Squid to start which was succulent and tender served with chorizo, rocket salad and aioli.
My dining companion went for the Asparagus with heritage tomatoes, goat’s cheese mousse, bloody mary jelly and quails egg. This dish was disappointingly light on asparagus and heavy on the tomato which made it feel more like an egg & tomato salad.
To follow I had the Grilled Sea Bass Fillet served with crushed new potatoes, spaghetti vegetables, sun blushed tomatoes, baby spinach and a light butter sauce. The sea bass was lovely and moist with the potatoes adding a complimentary texture to the dish.
My companion was drawn to the 48 Hour Cooked Pork Belly which was melting soft and juicy served with chive mash, black pudding, crispy pork skin, kale, apple and Sipsmith damson vodka sauce.
Sides included Skin On Fries, Sweet Potato Fries and Bacon Mac ‘N Cheese.
The fries were delicious. The Mac ‘N Cheese had a good flavour but not so good texture. We found it had a floury mouth-feel.
For dessert, I chose the Chocolate Fondant served with ice cream encircled with rings of chocolate.
My dining companion ended the meal with a delicious Jack Daniels Whiskey Cheesecake.
Studio Kitchen with its glam rock credentials is a fun and funky place to eat and although some of the dishes are more rock than glam, we enjoyed our meal here and think you will too.
Studio Bar & Kitchen
K West Hotel & Spa, Richmond Way, London W14 0AX
020 8008 6600
www.k-west.co.uk