Barber and fellow investor Kochhar have offered KityCow a three-month residency at Barber’s Hush bar and brasserie in Mayfair, starting from next month.
Sous chefs Joe Allen and Aaron Thomas will set up home in the first-floor restaurant of Hush from February, serving Nepalese cuisine with a British twist. The KityCow menu will consist of 12 to 15 dishes of the chefs’ favourite Nepali dishes.
The pair appeared on BBC2's My Million Pound Menu under the name XXVl but were unsuccessful in securing investment for their aspiring restaurant venture. Undeterred, they invited the show’s judges Barber and Kochhar to experience their new Nepalese concept, KityCow (the name given to long-sleeved robes worn by sherpas).
“Atul and I were really impressed with what the guys had to offer; it was obvious they had come a long way from their appearance on the show and had clearly done their research in order to bring a growing trend to the forefront of modern dining,” says Barber.
“I was more than happy to help them on their journey and can’t wait for them to join forces with the team at Hush this February.”
The KityCow duo met at catering college and then went on to travel together in Australia, working in fine dining restaurants. Their Indo-Nepali cuisine style draws on inspiration from Thomas’ Indian heritage and Allen's personal ties to Nepal.
"Aaron and I are so thrilled to have been given the opportunity to take over the first floor kitchen of Hush and we can’t think of a better home for KityCow over the next three months,” says KityCow’s Allen.