Tom Aikens outlet opening set for September 2015

Less than seven weeks remain until Michelin-starred chef Tom Aikens opens his new concept Pots, Pans and Boards at The Beach, opposite JBR, in Dubai.

The restaurant interior, designed by Michaelis Boyd Associates, has drawn inspiration from an old-fashioned rustic home kitchen, with a range of hanging copper pots and pans, old kitchen knives and large heavy cleavers stuck into the walls of antique kitchen tiles.

The venue will have large communal size sharing tables made from reclaimed wood, suitable for big families and large groups of friends. There are also areas for the individual diners and smaller crowds, with bar stool seats alongside the marble kitchen counter and restaurant area, where diners can witness the action from the chefs in the open plan kitchen.

The menu will consist of a mixture of casual English, Mediterranean and French dishes, with a home-style offering of sharing starters, main courses and desserts. All dishes will be cooked and presented on a pot, a pan or a board: with large earthenware dishes, grilled meats and steaks from the pan, along with charcuterie and cured fish served directly on the board – the inspiration for the name.

Menu highlights include black squid tempura, lamb meatballs with harissa, malt glazed short rib, duck confit with mustard, treacle marinated salmon. A selection of grilled fish, meats and steaks will also be available, such as tenderloin, strip loin, rib eye, tiger prawns, a whole lobster and spatchcock baby chicken with barbecue sauce. A range of desserts includes sticky toffee pudding with date ice cream and the favourite, his Mum’s red fruit and apple crumble.

Aikens said: “We absolutely cannot wait to bring Pots, Pans and Boards to the people of Dubai and are keen to offer up something completely different to what currently exists on the Dubai food scene.

“The concept behind Pots, Pans and Boards stems from my own nostalgia of family and home-cooking in a bustling and comforting environment. Sharing food with friends and family means so much to me; it brings people closer together and makes the whole aspect of dining and eating out a truly enjoyable experience."

Aikens has worked with several three-Michelin star chefs, Pierre Koffmann at La Tante Claire, Joel Robuchon on Avenue Poincare in Paris and Gerard Boyer in Reims. Gaining two Michelin stars at 26, his eponymous restaurant opened in 2003, gaining its first Michelin star in 2004 and a second star in 2008.

He then launched a brasserie-style farm-to-table concept - Tom’s Kitchen - in 2006 in Chelsea, which was rolled out in Somerset House, Canary Wharf, St Katherine’s dock and Istanbul. He is also present in Hong Kong where he opened the Pawn and the Fat Pig to be launched this November, and now in Dubai with Pots, Pans & Boards this September.