Copper Chimney, the leading contemporary Indian restaurant brand is marking its 50th year anniversary.
Since its launch in 1972 in Mumbai, India, Copper Chimney has become a landmark in the Indian culinary landscape and a legendary brand that has carved a household name for itself across the country.
With presence across India, the Middle East and the UK, the 50-year anniversary celebrations will extend all the way to London.
The two-year-old London location in Shepherd’s Bush will launch a limited-edition Autograph Collection menu (dishes pictured), paying tribute to the brand's founder, J.K. Kapur, and showcasing many of its legendary and authentic recipes from over the last 5 decades.
During the Partition of 1947, Founder J.K. Kapur, migrated on top of one of the trains ferrying refugees from Lahore, in the Punjab Province of British India, to a newly independent India.
Once resettled in India, young J.K. Kapur would often recall his life before the Partition and share stories of his childhood years. A lot of these stories revolved around his love for food and around the dishes he enjoyed growing up.
A meticulous planner, J.K. used his home kitchen as his base to experiment and perfect the recipes and spice mixes for these very dishes, inspired by his pre-partition days’ memories; and journey through Undivided India - from Peshawar to Delhi.
Twenty-five years after leaving his home and the memories of his past behind, J.K. Kapur was able to share with the world his signature recipes and dishes with the launch of the first Copper Chimney Restaurant in 1972, at Worli, Mumbai.
Each dish was produced from scratch and every curry was simmered for a precise number of hours. The grill was marinated in its own specific closely guarded spice mix; lentils were slow cooked; biryanis were layered with an almost scientific precision; and each piece of bread was stretched and baked to perfection - the rest is history.
Copper Chimney’s tryst with the UK began back in the 1980s when the first outlet opened on Heddon St in London. Due to unfortunate personal circumstances, JK had to pull down the shutters and move back to India. Many years later, the brand relaunched in London with the next generations of JK’s family to fulfilling his dream of sharing the authentic flavours of Undivided India with the multi-cultural community of the UK.
Nilima Daruwala, Director, Charcoal Concepts said, “Our story is our taste, the secret recipes are our lineage, and our reputation is on your plate. As a legacy brand straight from India, celebrating its 50th year, we wanted to showcase this very history and legacy to our guests and community in London.
'On this momentous occasion, we pay tribute to our legendary founder Mr JK Kapur, with our limited-time Autograph Collection Menu’ - with notable dishes from across the decades and from Mr. J.K. Kapur’s personal repertoire of recipes.
'Dishes loved and enjoyed over the years by our special guests from Bollywood - Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand, Saira Banu, Waheeda Rehman and others, legends who graced Copper Chimney over 50 illustrious years.”
Signature highlights of the Autograph Menu include Parda Chicken Kebab – chicken breast chops rubbed with turmeric and marinated overnight in a green chilli yoghurt marinade with a hint of Kabab Chini spice, Pudina Paneer Tikka - a Punjabi recipe of zesty mint and coriander chutney wrapped around marinated cottage cheese stuffed with a red chilli achari chutney, and Rawalpindi Gosht - a slow roasted mutton braised in whole spices, bay leaf and whole red chillies and simmered in an onion tomato masala.
Other dishes include Fish Tikka Amritsari Masala - fish tikkas seasoned with carom seeds, tossed in a rustic and robust Punjabi dhaba masala, Royal Chicken Kofta - a slow cooked stuffed chicken kofta in an exotic caramelised onion gravy, finished with edible silver leaf, Subz Khurchan - garden vegetables tempered with garlic and chopped chillies, tossed with Punjabi spices, onion, and peppers.
There's also Chicken Yakhni Pulao - chicken and rice cooked in chicken yakhni (stock) with their signature Pathani spice mix and fried onions, garnished with Afghani red berries; and a refreshing sweet indulgence Peshawari Kulfi Faloode - inspired by the kulfis sold in the bazaars of Peshawar by street vendors.
The Autograph Collection menu will be available until 31 December.
