Finding His Muse

Finding his MUSE

THIS MONTH OUR PHOTO ESSAY LOOKS AROUND TOM AIKENS’ NEW RESTAURANT, MUSE, IN LONDON’S BELGRAVIA

www.musebytomaikens.co.uk

Muse by Tom Aikens

SET IN A CONVERTED Georgian townhouse, Muse is a 25-cover fine dining restaurant, with dramatic open kitchens on both floors.

Menus are inspired by pivotal moments and key people from Tom’s personal life and career, with much from his childhood in Cringleford, Norwich, and his days at City College Norwich.

Through his take on experienceled dining, Muse invites guests on a culinary journey which is designed to create lasting memories. On the six-course and ten-course tasting menus, each dish harks back to something which, or someone who, has influenced Tom.

JAMES MCDONALD © MUSE - FIRST FLOOR JAMES MCDONALD © MUSE

JAMES MCDONALD © MUSE - GROUND FLOOR

One dish, Conquering the Beech Tree, is inspired by memories of climbing a huge beech tree with his twin brother at the end of their garden. This is mirrored at Muse in an unconventional joining of Langoustine, pork fat and burnt apple, which rings true to Tom’s belief that as a chef he should never be afraid to take risks.

Many Norfolk producers feature on the menu, including Old Hall Farm at Woodton, near Bungay, Fen Farm Dairy, near Bungay, and Bagthorpe Farm, near King’s Lynn.

Tom, a regular judge on the Great British Menu, worked with Rebecca Korner on the restaurant’s groovy interior design, and there is also a ground floor cocktail bar. Both ground floor and first floor counter seats, overlooking the kitchen, are available for a really up close and personal culinary experience!

ALWAYS PLAYING WITH FIRE - BEEF, NORFOLK GRAINS, BARSHAM STOUT ROBIN BEER ©THOMAS ALEXANDER

JUST DOWN THE ROAD - MILK, HONEY, TRUFFLE ©THOMAS ALEXANDER