The restaurant, which will have approximately 120 covers, opens its doors in November, offering a fusion of Japanese, British and European cooking. It is the first restaurant space to be designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Zaha Hadid.
Lange, who has previously worked with K&K London for its Pret A Diner events in London, is glad to take up a permanent residency in the capital.
“I am thrilled to be in London,” he said. “It’s exciting to be in a city that has a restaurant scene that is vibrant and diverse and be amongst so many brilliant chefs. I have a terrific team working with me and we’re looking forward to opening The Magazine.”
Changing styles
The chef is perhaps best known for his sushi skills, but is keen to bring a variety of techniques to the new role.
“People often ask me about my style of cooking and my response remains unchanged - cooking should not always be so defined; it evolves from one style and then reinvents itself to another.
“I cannot limit my cooking to one description; however one thing that never changes is my passion for being in the kitchen.”
Lange's vision for the food at The Magazine compliments the two contrasting linked buildings in which the restaurant is situated – mixing traditional and modern flavours. Starters include rainbow trout, celeriac, pink lady apple and elderflower; Iberico pork cheeks, heritage carrots, plum and crackling features among the mains; and tapioca tonka rice pudding and mango sorbet is among the desserts.
Gunpowder store
The Magazine’s wine list restaurant will showcase favourites from the Old World as well as German, Austrian and English wines and a carefully sourced ‘artists series’ of fine wines. The cocktail list will make reference to The Magazine’s history as well as the kitchen’s Japanese and British roots.
The restaurant is situated on the site of a former gunpowder store, five minutes’ walk from the Serpentine Gallery on the north side of the Serpentine Bridge. The newly designed structure features a ‘membrane roof’ and clear glass walls, giving customers the impression of dining within the surrounding garden.
The Serpentine Sackler Gallery features 900 square metres of new gallery, restaurant and social space and is an extension of Serpentine's original space in Kensington Gardens. It will open on Saturday (28 September), while The Magazine restaurant and bar will open in November.