DUSK in Essex aims to be world’s first Halal Michelin restaurant

Wasabi, broccoli, truffle, charcoal macaroon, aubergine éclair (credit: Dusk)

Our award-winning Head Chef Stephen Gomes has put together a menu which we believe is of a Michelin standard – Dusk co-owner Sharif Uddin

An award-winning restaurant in Essex has introduced a Halal menu using molecular gastronomy with one eye on a Michelin star.

Created by renowned Executive Head Chef Stephen Gomes, DUSK in Brentwood has been hard at work during the pandemic lockdown preparing a refined tasting menu.

The luxury 400-cover establishment says it is aiming to be the first fully Halal eatery in the world to win the coveted Michelin star and join an elite group of restaurants.

Combining scientific cooking methods with homegrown herbs and local produce, Gomes has brought his trademark light theatrical touch to his newly conceived menus.

The award-winning chef has spent considerable time in his laboratory-kitchen experimenting with new flavour combinations and techniques.

The results are a choice of visually stunning 5- and 7-course menus, with vegan and vegetarian options available, plus a unique accompanying speciality tea flight.

Dusk co-owner Sharif Uddin confidently told FtLion: “Our award-winning Head Chef Stephen Gomes has put together a menu which we believe is of a Michelin standard.”

Menu inspired by chef’s father, grandma, and… Roald Dahl 

Varying with the seasons, the new menus, which have been inspired by famous children’s author Roald Dahl, will feature items like:

• Shredded A5 wagyu beef, overflowing apple gazpacho.
• Pan-seared Black Cod, reduced sweet chilli, spicy mango salsa.
• Smoked salmon cheesecake, dill bread, 24ct gold leaf.
• The Campfire: Wasabi, broccoli, truffle, charcoal macaroon, aubergine éclair.
• Sous vide grass fed French-trimmed baby lamb chops, mixed pickle hummus, salad, pearls, ghost reaper gravy, violet rock potatoes, rosemary fire.
• Rock lobster, fluffy lemon air, blue pea, reduced velouté plush splash of house desserts.

“I’ve designed the menu to tell a story, and take the diner on a culinary journey, based on the inspirations from my grandma, my father Chef James, Roald Dahl and the science of spice,” said Stephen, who has won numerous awards and achieved 2 AA Rosette.

The 7-course tasting menu is priced at £89 (£59 vegan), and with the matched tea flight at £20, with the 5-course being £69 (£59 vegan).

The chef has also improved on DUSK’s a la carte menu with exciting creations that also includes The Campfire as well as Angry Birds consisting of pepper marinated corn-fed chicken morsels, grilled quail, puff rice, quail egg, mint aioli.

Having tentatively reopened for 2-days per week (Fri-Sat 6-11pm), DUSK, while operating a BYO policy, is only a handful of luxury venues in the country with an elaborate dry bar showcasing premium non-alcoholic beverage by Halal drinks company Azanti which advocates a “Sober Lifestyle”.

The 400-cover venue was launched in 2019 by restaurateurs Sharif Uddin and Shakil Islam, before going on to win #FtLionAwards Best Dessert of the Year.

DUSK
Ongar Rd, Brentwood CM15 9SS.

T: +44 (0)1277 424 987 | W: www.duskbrentwood.co.uk | E: [email protected]