The Curious Kitchen, at
Aztec Hotel and Spa, is taking cooking back to its roots and creating homemade culinary masterpieces using traditional techniques.
The AA Rosette restaurant opened its doors under a new name on
13 May 2019, following a two year journey that has seen all aspects of the restaurant, its private dining areas and dining terrace refurbished, along with a new kitchen team introduced and developed.
The brainchild of executive head chef,
Marc Payne, The Curious Kitchen is perfecting the homemade culinary methods including pickling, curing and smoking produce to create the best tasting dishes. From infused mayonnaise to cured or smoked meats and fish, these much-loved practices bring out the best of the local produce and allow diners to experience beautifully delicious food all prepared by a team of skilled chefs.
“Time is a luxury, especially in a kitchen, and while it is easier to buy in pre-made ingredients, I felt it was important that we ourselves prepared as much of our produce as possible,” says Marc Payne. “
It has been so interesting being able to find great flavour combinations and adapting some of the more traditional techniques to create our own styles. The pickling or bread making methods that our great-grandparents used are still the basis of the techniques we are using now, and it shows that these skills are just as important today as they have been for centuries to create good, wholesome and delicious food. The team has been enthusiastic at embracing my vision and have relished learning and developing these new skills.”
From homemade old bay butter and pickled onions to preserved lemon and smoked jalapeno, mayonnaise diners will be able to enjoy the delicious results of the team’s hard work.
Marc and his team will be running regular masterclass evenings showcasing the culinary skills that go into creating the fabulous dishes.
The Curious Kitchen is a beautiful restaurant blending rustic design with contemporary furnishings and artwork depicting the local area. The al fresco terrace offers a beautiful outdoor dining option and the Garden Room is perfect for private dining events for up to 24 people.