PR91664

LONDON, Sept. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

The American Express One To Watch Award recognises a restaurant considered a

rising star on an international level

50 Best today announces the winner of the American Express One To Watch Award

2021 as London's Ikoyi, co-founded by childhood friends Jeremy Chan and Ire

Hassan-Odukale. The American Express One To Watch Award recognises a restaurant

considered to be a rising star on the global dining scene and aims to celebrate

gastronomic excellence and innovation.

Since opening in 2017, Ikoyi has distinguished itself for its bold use of

flavour, introducing new and original ingredient combinations and presenting

them with indefinable style. Chan and Hassan-Odukale have made it their mission

to source superlative local produce and serve it in its optimal state. The

foundation of their dishes is a vast collection of global spices with a focus

on sub-Saharan West Africa, which have been meticulously sourced over the past

few years, resulting in menus which surprise the senses with a balance of heat

and umami. The restaurant is situated in the heart of St James's Market, two

minutes' walk from London's famous Piccadilly Circus.

A chance conversation with friend and now-business partner Hassan-Odukale

ignited a spark around the possibilities of African-inspired food. A period of

intensive research ensued and what emerged was a series of new dishes with

unique flavour profiles and a desire to forge a fresh culinary

narrative. Nigerian-born Ire Hassan-Odukale left a corporate background in

insurance to co-launch Ikoyi. They both liked the abstract quality of the name,

as it represented the starting point of a cuisine totally unique to themselves.

Chef Jeremy Chan says: "We are extremely humbled by the recognition on the

global stage and proud of our small, hard-working team. We are also grateful to

our producers without whom this success would not be possible."

The award seeks to recognise outstanding emerging culinary talent and fresh

experiences. Previous winners include Lido 84 in Italy (2019), SingleThread in

the US (2018), Disfrutar in Barcelona (2017) and Den in Tokyo (2016). 50 Best

will announce the list of restaurants ranked from 51st to 100th in the annual

vote on 23rd September, ahead of The World's 50 Best Restaurants being

announced on 5th October.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1623536/50_Best.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1556362/50_Best_Logo.jpg

Source: 50 Best