Event

Sarge at the Disco!

Mark Sargeant (formerly head chef at Gordon Ramsay at Claridge's and Chef of the Year 2002) met Carl Clarke just a few months ago at the Padstow Christmas Festival, where they bonded over a fondness for Cornwall and its bounty of artisan food producers.

Both chefs have followed each other's careers for some time, which over the last couple of years have taken quite different turns. Mark (the traditionalist) left London to set up Rocksalt and The Smokehouse in Folkestone, establishing himself as a successful restaurateur and consultant to restaurant groups such as Canteen. At the other end of the spectrum, Carl (the iconoclast) threw himself into a gruelling series of ad-hoc cooking ventures, such as Rock Lobsta and God Save the Clam, culminating in the launch of Disco Bistro EC4 - a six month culinary residency breaking all the rules - in late 2012.

After some light baiting from Carl and the team, Mark promised to dig out the chef whites and design a killer menu that reflected the flavours and produce of the Kentish coastline, while allowing him to flex his creative muscle.

"I love Carl's 'no bullsh*t' approach to food. Anything goes. It's refreshing in this day and age to see a chef with a sense of humour about what he does."
- Mark Sargeant

The menu:

THE BEGINNING
Rocksalt taramasalata, sourdough
&
Oyster beignet with pulled short rib and mustard, beef tea with samphire

THE MIDDLE
Salt and pepper squid with yuzu and chilli dressing
&
Mackerel pasty with cured cucumber, chicory salad stuffed with Iberico pork mince

THE END
Cold chocolate and sea buckthorn fondant, crystallised sea purslane
&
Sea salt fudge