D&D London has announced the appointment of a new executive chef at its sole venue in Birmingham.
Kiran Suvarna, who has managed kitchen operations at German Gymnasium, Klosterhaus, Skylon, and Le Pont de la Tour, is now set to lead Orelle, bringing with him 21 years of industry experience.
Born in Mumbai, Suvarna completed his Post Graduation in Culinary Arts from Hammersmith & West London College. He has worked with renowned brands such as Taj, Hyatt, and Hilton, eventually joining D&D London Group as a chef de partie at Le Pont de la Tour. There, he collaborated with his mentor, chef-patron Lee Bennet, who is now the global director of Gordon Ramsay Restaurant Group Holdings.
Suvarna has since relocated to Singapore, where he worked alongside chef Jason Atherton at the restaurants Pollen and Esquina, and served as head chef at the luxury hotel Oasia Downtown.
In 2019, he returned to Mumbai to reconnect with his roots and delve into native Indian cuisine. He became the youngest executive chef at Le Meridien, Marriott International, and also served as the director of culinary at both Ninos and Francescos.
Upon returning to London in 2022, Suvarna rejoined D&D, taking on roles at German Gymnasium, Klosterhaus in Bristol, and Skylon in Waterloo, before ultimately making his way back to Le Pont de la Tour.
Orelle, which was listed in the Harden's Guide less than six months after its launch, has since been awarded Best Restaurant in Birmingham at this year's British Restaurant Awards. The venue is situated on the 24th floor of 103 Colmore Row, providing panoramic views of the city.
'I'm truly honoured to join the wonderful team at Orelle,' says the chef. 'To be working at such an iconic restaurant is really exciting. I'm looking forward to leading the kitchen team and ensuring we continue to deliver exceptional food to every one of the restaurant's loyal and new guests. It's an exciting time for the culinary scene in the Midlands and I'm grateful to be a part of it.'