There’s someone you should meet.
She’s delightful.
Turkish.
Makes a mean çemen-glazed lamb cutlet.
And while in the past she’s been difficult to pin down – following stints at The Providores and Kopapa, sold-out pop ups at Carousel and Trip Kitchen, and kitchen residencies that resulted in her being touted (by us) as “the next big thing to hit the London restaurant scene” – she’s now rather easy to find.
Yes, Selin Kiazim – modern Turkish chef du jour (which is restaurant speak for “chef of the day”) – is now deeply embedded within her restaurant Oklava, an intimate, inconspicuous, delightful Turkish restaurant tucked away on the corner of two unassuming East London side streets. Filled with a restaurant-length open kitchen and bespoke grill; dim lighting and candles; traditional copper tea plates and ceramic tiles; and a wine list that is, essentially, a “who’s who” of Turkey’s most eminent and progressive vineyards, it features dishes that change with every season.
As of now, she’s changed up the space to be tasting-menu only, with a four or five course lineup (which can be supplemented with extras) including the likes of glazed & grilled beets with walnut brown butter & honey; some wood-grilled cull yaw (that’s dry-aged retired breeding ewe) with a flourish of accompaniments + condiments; and a richly spiced rice pudding with fig leaf oil and mahlep ice-cream.
It all goes rather nicely with a sumac and pomegranate martini.
Then again, so does everything.
NOTE: Oklava is open for dinner, Tues-Sat, and you can reserve a table HERE.
Oklava | 74 Luke Street, Shoreditch, EC2A 4PY
Heading for a nightcap after? Check out the best bars in Shoreditch…
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Carpe Diem!