Edinburgh spice girl set to make waves with Scottish seafood
What is believed to be Scotland’s first Indian seafood restaurant has opened in Edinburgh.
Konkana, named after the Konkan region of India famed for its fish and shellfish specialities, features fresh Scottish produce cooked with authentic Indian spices, using traditional methodology.
“India has a coastline extending to 7,500 kilometres so it seemed natural to highlight this by combining Indian ingredients and techniques with fish and shellfish caught locally around Scotland’s shores and in its seas and rivers,” said owner Sheela Bhosale.
“The length of the coastline also lends itself to an amazing variety of particularly healthy dishes. On the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal there are variations in the seafood cuisine every 100 kilometres or so.”
Patrick Hughes, Head of Seafood Scotland, added: ”The local foodservice market is vitally important to the Scottish seafood industry and it’s really encouraging to see our fabulous fish and shellfish being used in such new and exciting ways. Konkana has a created a real opportunity to combine authentic Indian flavours with some of the finest produce from Scotland.”
The restaurant’s Executive Chef Anand Sehgal has 35 years international experience, including work at the Royal Yacht Club and a fine dining restaurant in Jersey, seven years at Edinburgh’s Oloroso, and restaurants in Singapore, Indonesia, New Delhi and Jaipur.
Mrs Bhosale also owns the long-established Indian vegetarian restaurant Kalpna in St Patrick Square in Edinburgh’s Meadows area.
“Many Indian restaurants are pretty much the same,” she said. “Our idea was to create something very much out of the ordinary. Edinburgh doesn’t have too many speciality restaurants.”
Stylishly decorated and furnished, Konkana is open for dinner six days a week (closed on Sundays). For reservations call (0131) 228 6694. It is located in Leven Street in Bruntsfield near the King’s Theatre,