At Tonic we represent a broad client base that includes Michelin-starred restaurants, limited edition pop-ups, comedians working in food and everything in-between. What we look for in a client is that they're best in class - whatever style of hospitality they offer, their ambition and commitment is what drives us to do our best work. So, this month we're proud to be reopening Charlotte Street institution, The Ninth; launching Embers in Brighton from two of the city's best culinary talents; and opening the doors to Tom Cenci's stunning Nessa. That's just the tip of the iceberg too - read on for more of this month's news, fundraising and eating.
Latest news
The Ninth to reopen on 9th March, seven months after fire closure
Jun Tanaka's Michelin-starred restaurant The Ninth will reopen in Fitzrovia this March, seven months after it was forced to close due to a kitchen fire. Now in its eighth year, the restaurant will welcome diners once again from 9th March. The restaurant will feel reassuringly familiar, but with a refreshed interior, including new leather banquettes, updated bathrooms and new tableware for a renewed, contemporary feel. Read more here.
Contemporary Japanese restaurant Kibako to open in Fitzrovia this month
Kibako, a new contemporary Japanese restaurant, will launch in Fitzrovia in mid-March. The menu at the 50-cover spot will centre around kibako – expertly curated, omakase-style boxes, containing between six and twelve hand-crafted sushi and sashimi dishes per diner. Ranging from seared butterfish with red jalapeño sauce to hand-dived scallop with plum, the selection is chosen personally by the kitchen for each guest. Read more here.
Wood-fire restaurant Embers to open in Brighton this April
On 3rd April, top Brighton chefs Dave Marrow and Isaac Bartlett-Copeland will open Embers, a new restaurant celebrating Sussex produce and wood-fire cooking, in the city's Lanes. Formerly Head Chef at Terre à Terre and Chef Patron at Isaac At respectively, Dave and Isaac have teamed up to create a bold menu cooked entirely on a medieval wood-fire cage, positioned over smouldering embers in the heart of the restaurant. Read more here.
Nessa to open in Soho on 6th March, with bookings now live
Highly anticipated new Soho restaurant Nessa will officially open its doors this month on 6th March. The new modern bistro from Maslow’s founder Guy Ivesha, (Mortimer House) and Executive Chef Tom Cenci (Loyal Tavern, Duck and Waffle) will sit on the prominent corner of Brewer and Warwick streets, serving a menu of classic dishes that champion British seasonality with a contemporary, globally influenced twist. Bookings are now live here.
The Auld Reekie Report
Ka Pao and Celentano's join forces for charity dinner
On 20th March, southeast Asian-inspired restaurant Ka Pao will host a collaboration dinner with Celentano’s to mark its first birthday. Profits will go to the Edinburgh Food Project to provide emergency food supplies for those in crisis. Tickets are £45, and can be purchased here, with more information here.
Chef spotlight: Henrique Sá Pessoa
One of Portugal’s most celebrated chefs, Henrique Sá Pessoa is the internationally acclaimed culinary talent behind JOIA, the new Iberian restaurant situated across the top floors of art’otel London Battersea Power Station.
Born in Lisbon, Henrique is best known as Chef Founder of Alma, a two-Michelin-starred restaurant in the city’s Chiado district.
Henrique began his career training at the Cordon Bleu Institute, before honing his craft at Lisbon’s Hotel da Lapa and Panorama at the Sheraton Hotel, and going on to work with Sheraton at its hotels in Sydney and London.
In 2009, he opened Alma as his first solo project in Lisbon, relocating it to the Chiado area six years later. In 2018, Alma was awarded two Michelin stars, making him only the third chef in Portuguese history to receive this prestigious accolade.
In Portugal, Henrique has become a recognisable figure on television thanks to turns on Ingrediente Secreto and Chef de Família, and has reached an international audience with his appearance in the Lisbon episode of Netflix’s Somebody Feed Phil.
Henrique also owns a relaxed Portuguese restaurant Tapisco, and is the concept chef for Chiado in Macau, and ARCA, the restaurant at art’otel Amsterdam which opened in 2021. His accolades include winning Portugal’s Chef of the Year in 2005, GQ’s Chef of the Year in 2007, and being placed 38th in The Best Chef Awards in 2021.
Read more about JOIA here.
