TV presenter Hardeep Singh Kohli has teamed up with the operators of Vintage Leith to open what they claim is Scotland’s first craft beer and curry venue.
VDeep, which opens in Edinburgh today, offers 10 craft keg beers, 3 craft cask beers, over 20 bottled craft beers and 21 contemporary Indian dishes.
The product of a partnership between Kohli and head chef Ruairidh Skinner, the VDeep menu features ‘Bangras & Mash’, ‘Cauliflower Cheese Curry’ and ‘Pork Cheek Vindaloo’. Kohli says the dishes are all inspired by his childhood, craft beer culture and classic British cuisine.
Hardeep said: “My whole life I’ve heard people saying ‘I’m going out for a beer, then for a curry’ but nobody has ever put them in the same room.
“I was always nervous at the prospect of trying to reinvent Indian food while remaining authentic. Then I began to question ‘what is authentic?’ Food has developed and changed for centuries. VDeep is the next dynamic change in Indian food.”
Vindabrew - a limited edition guest beer brewed by Kohli, Skinner and operations director Darren Blackburn – has been specially created for the launch of VDeep. The 5.5% cardamom-infused IPA is the first in a series of small batch craft beers designed to pair with curry and created by the team behind the restaurant.
Kohli said he hoped the communal dining aspect would encourage visitors to engage in conversation and even share one another’s curry and beer choices.
He said: “When you go to the pub, you always end up having a chat to the people next to you; that’s the pub experience. At the heart of Punjabi dining is a shared experience too.
“We don’t have food served to us on individual plates, we have empty plates and bowls of food for sharing. Everyone just gets piled in. VDeep is very similar. It isn’t just about craft beer and curry, it’s about a real shared experience.”
