Tom's Abu Dhabi Expansion

Chef Tom Aikens gives us the low-down on his three new restaurants at the Abu Dhabi EDITION.

- Sophie Voelzing

One of the UK’s most acclaimed British chefs, Tom Aikens recently broadened his culinary scope in the UAE, with the opening of three restaurants at the newly-launched Abu Dhabi EDITION.

Tom, who already has a restaurant at Dubai’s beachfront destination, Jumeirah Beach Residence called Pots, Pans & Boards, is now the chef who oversees Oak Room, Alba Terrace and Market in Abu Dhabi.

Outside of the UAE, Tom’s career so far has been incredibly accomplished in the culinary world – seeing him become the youngest British chef to earn two Michelin Stars. He’s worked at David Cavalier’s in Battersea, Pierre Koffman’s La Tante Claire, Joel Robuchon in Paris, Gerard Boyere’s in Riems, and the famed Pied-à-Terre before going on to open his immensely successful eponymous restaurant, Tom Aikens (20032014), which won a Michelin star and rising 2 star in 2009.

Tom currently has three Tom’s Kitchen sites: the Chelsea original, which opened in 2006, Canary Wharf (2013), and the first UK site outside of London opened in Birmingham’s The Mailbox in December 2016. There are also two Tom’s Kitchen Delis, adjacent to the restaurants in Canary Wharf, and Birmingham.

In addition to being a cookbook author and regular guest on Great British Menu and Great British Bake Off’s The Extra Slice, Tom is dedicated to serving only the highest quality, ethically sourced ingredients and continually supports The Environmental Justice Foundation to raise awareness of illegal ‘pirate’ fishing and diminishing fish stocks.

Here, he tells of how his journey in the kitchen got started, and how it brought him here to the Middle East…

How did your career as a chef begin?