West Africa Meets Eastern Europe at New Mayfair ‘Fusion’ Restaurant

A new restaurant described as “modern British infused with the essence of West Africa and Eastern Europe” has opened in Mayfair. Stork, “a fresh concept that puts the spotlight on fusion dining at its finest,” opened at the end of April on Cork Street, close to the Burlington Arcade, off Piccadilly.

The idea which underpins the restaurant is the journey taken by the stork, a large, migrating bird, “from East to West; Eastern Europe to Western Africa.” Stork, the restaurant, is owned by Nigerian Michael Adjovi Kalu and Moldovan Nadina Grigoras, who say they have taken inspiration from their own backgrounds. The menu will thus adopt “global influences” which reflect what is “collected along this journey, gathering taste inspiration and flavours from the countries in the Stork’s path. A true migration of taste.”

The two-tiered restaurant, accommodating 120 covers, sees chef Adebola Adeshina take charge of the kitchen — and brings with him experience in kitchens which specialise in “fine cuisine.” He counts Gordon Ramsay and Marcus Wareing as former employers, working with the former at Aubergine, Ramsay’s first London restaurant, for six years in the 1990s.

The owners, “successful tech entrepreneurs and wine developers, [turned] restaurant pioneers,” say they want to “share the love of their heritage and respective national cuisines with a wider audience.”

Founder, Michael Adjovi a little surprisingly claims that he felt the London food scene was “missing the authentic west African cuisine he knows and loves.” Even though that is not what Stork is setting out to address, he said: “There is nowhere in London to experience the true flavours of West Africa, little is known about West African or Eastern European cuisine and Stork brings these global flavours to London.” West African cuisine definitely does exist in London; indeed a modern interpretation of the cuisine can be found just moments from Stork — at one of the city’s most innovative and exciting restaurants, Ikoyi.

Chef Adeshina says that “Stork is all about using the best produce whilst catering to all customers with diverse palates. There are so many flavours to be explored from around the globe and Stork brings these to the table.”

More soon.