This summer, Jamavar’s Co-Founder, Samyukta Nair (pictured), will celebrate London’s leading ladies with the launch of the exclusive Jamavar Women’s Club; a monthly meeting of minds held in the exuberant subterranean bar tucked beneath the Mount Street restaurant on Monday evenings.
Hailing from a family of matriarchs, Nair will gather together inspirational women from a plethora of backgrounds to celebrate their diverse talents, share stories, ideas and advice, as an antidote to the traditional ‘boy’s clubs’ of Mayfair, although men are welcome to attend, but only as a guest of female ticket holders.
Hosting the inaugural evening on 31 July will be Florence Knight, Chef, Sunday Times food columnist and Author of ONE: A Cook and Her Kitchen. Since completing her training at Leith’s School of Food and Wine, Knight worked under Raymond Blanc before being appointed Head Chef at Polpetto, where her preference for pared back, unfussy cooking earned her widespread critical acclaim. Florence is currently working towards opening her own restaurant.
Knight's achievements are born from her determination and a passion for her craft, something which she shares with fellow speaker Kathryn Sargent, Jamavar’s neighbour and celebrated Savile Row tailor, who will take to the helm on 14 August, followed by Ex-England cricketer Isa Guha, who lead her team to victory in the 2009 World Cup and who will be taking over the Women’s Club on 21 August.
The 18 September will see Joa Studholme, longstanding colour consultant at Farrow & Ball, take the floor, before Tamara Rojo, Artistic Director of the English National Ballet, who will close the club series on 25 September.
Nair said, ‘Growing up, I was always surrounded by amazing women, and never made to feel like there was anything I couldn’t achieve, but I was grounded too, and taught the value of celebrating all the things which make us, as women, powerful and talented.
'I’m launching the Women’s Club because I want to share that same ethos with our guests here in London – it’s a city full of astounding strength and creativity, and I think it’s important that we are unashamedly proud of that.
'By sharing stories of our failures, our successes and all the things which happen in between, we can build each other up and learn from each other. We can’t wait to get things started and, of course, all the best conversations are had around the dinner table’.
Specialists in the regional dishes of India, Executive Chef, Rohit Ghai, has created a bespoke Women’s Club menu, beginning with canapés of Stone bass tikka and shami kebab or Paneer and aloo tikka, which will be served with a glass of fizz from the bar, to raise a toast to the evening.
Jamavar’s signature Poppadum basket, with house made chutneys will be followed by Scallops bhel; hand caught seared scallop on puffed rice with tamarind date chutney. Rohit’s Old Delhi butter chicken, made with Suffolk corn-fed char-grilled and pulled chicken, fresh tomato and fenugreek, will take centre stage and, to end on a sweet note, Rhubarb chuski falooda with basil seeds, rhubarb and saffron rabri kulfi, will complete the menu.