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Set to open in London this summer, Gordon Ramsay’s new “Asian eating house,” Lucky Cat, was “inspired by the drinking dens of 1930s Tokyo and the Far East,” according to the restauranteur.
It’s a good thing Lucky Cat will have plenty of booze because it sounds like diners will need it. According to Angela Hui of Eater London, her trip to the new restaurant, “was nothing if not a real-life Ramsay kitchen nightmare,” when she dined there during a preview for journalists.
With a menu featuring dishes such as mini Wagyu pastrami burgers topped with “asian” chili jam, “raw” Hirasama kingfish sashimi with house soy and smoked duck breast with plumb (spelled that way on the menu, Hui felt far from fortunate while eating at Lucky Cat and told a member of the waitstaff her favorite offering was the wine.
To Hui, the actual inspiration behind Lucky Cat seemed a bit muddled as there was not a clear indication as to what variety of food the restaurant was attempting to serve other than “Asian,” as opposed to being more specific with Chinese, Japanese, Korean or any of the 48 countries that make up the continent. (No word if cuisine from Asian countries Israel, Mongolia, Iran or Kazakhstan is or will be included). Lucky Cat also lacked authenticity in Hui’s opinion. “I was the only east Asian person in a room full of 30-40 journalists and chefs,” she wrote.
Ramsay’s explanation about why he wanted to open Lucky Cat, which will also have a “vibrant late-night lounge,” was also somewhat lacking.
“I’ve toured and worked in much of Asia over the years and the culture, the flavors, and the incredible cooking never fail to inspire me,” he said at the press event. “We’ve got a great team behind this project and we’re ready to bring something really special to London this summer.”
When Lucky Cat opens, head chef Ben Orpwood, who “traveled back and forth to south Asia for many months” according to Ramsay, will be in charge.
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