Carousel Restaurant London: Céline Pham

Carousel restaurant, Marylebone
Up-and-coming Marylebone spot Carousel has had some fine chefs through its doors in recent months. Leandro Carreira, Sebastian Mazzola, Murray Wilson and more have taken up residence in the Carousel kitchen since the turn of the year, a veritable... well, carousel of top culinary talent from across the UK and Europe.
Located just around the corner from celeb hot spot Chiltern Firehouse, Carousel is a London pop up restaurant with a punchy reputation, famed for hosting leading figures in the culinary world – such as Moro Chef Tom Ryalls and in-house rising star Ollie Templeton. London restaurants with rotating chefs rarely have as much variety, and the most recent residency at Carousel is no exception.
Céline Pham
Between the 18th and 22th of August, Céline Pham's expert hands will be taking the reigns at the Carousel pop up restaurant. One half of French-Vietnamese brother-sister duo, ‘Phamily’, the twenty-seven year old comes to London fresh from a sell-out residency at Parisian hot spot, La Table Ronde.
Phian is inspired by her grandmother's traditional recipes, but has her own contemporary take on Vietnamese cuisine, believing that food is all about striking a balance between 'the refined' and 'the understated'. Already one of the most exciting – and certainly versatile – places to eat in Marylebone, this August's menu at Carousel should be no exception.
On the menu
The menu will feature the best of what’s available from the Carousel suppliers each morning – so far they're boasting such elaborate dishes as: 'Shrimp Ravioli in a Purple Basil, Tomato and Tamarind Consommé (Canh Chua), Lardo di Colonnata and Roasted Buckwheat’, ‘Caramelised Octopus with Roasted Sesame Vinaigrette, Beans and Coriander’ and ‘Buttermilk, Lemon and Thai Basil Sorbet, Strawberries and Shortbread’.
If, then, you love Vietnamese cooking, then get to Carousel this August for a delicious new take on tradition. Book now to make sure you don't miss out on the ever growing Carousel craze.
Top tips
The Carousel pop up's rotating service means you can expect to wait a little while between courses, but they are constantly improving, and the dishes are certainly worth the wait. We'd recommend booking with a group, as Carousel's relaxed atmosphere and long tables are conducive to intimate dining among friends.
Lunch sittings are offered as one-, two- or three-course, but dinner is always four-course. Expect to be there for at least two hours as service is staggered.
Our insider's tip: show up at 8 instead of 7 to avoid a wait.