Michelin star chef and top sommelier announce wine bar in Whitstable, Kent
See a glimpse at the menu that will accompany the wine selection
Chef of the Michelin-starred Fordwich Arms Dan Smith is teaming up with his former sommelier Elliott Ashton-Konig to launch Keller, a new wine bar and restaurant in Whitstable, this June.
Elliott previously oversaw the wine programmes at both The Fordwich Arms and The Bridge Arms, and most recently worked at the two-Michelin-starred Da Terra in Bethnal Green. After returning to Kent late last year, he and Dan were given the opportunity to take over the Keller site, a former deli on Harbour Street, and quickly jumped at the chance to open a restaurant together.
Dan will act as co-owner and oversee the menu, while the kitchen will be led by fellow Fordwich Arms alumnus Ollie Clifford-Cox, most recently of the two-Michelin-starred Hide and Fox in Kent.
Despite the trio’s fine-dining pedigree, Keller will take a more relaxed approach, and will centre around a casual, produce-led menu cooked over a charcoal-fired Bertha oven. Given its location, there will of course be oysters and seafood, but Keller plans to draw on a wider range of ingredients sourced from excellent local suppliers.
Highlights from the opening menu are set to include:
Rarebit croquettes
Roasted scallops with vadouvan spices
Beef tartare with shoestring fries and gherkin ketchup
Red mullet with braised fennel and Noilly Prat sauce
Rump of lamb with merguez, tomato and goat’s curd
Brown sugar custard tart with crème fraîche ice cream
Elliott will be curating the wine list, which will have a balanced mix of Old and New World bottles, alongside standout producers from Kent and surrounding counties.
The list is designed to be accessible, with two wines on tap from Uncharted Wines available by the carafe, and a wide range of bottles starting at approachable price points. There will be an ever changing by the glass selection showcasing Elliott’s favourite producers, as well as a concise reserve list offering rarer finds for those looking to trade up.
Elliott says: “Opening Keller in Whitstable feels very personal to me, as it's somewhere I've spent a lot of time and built a real connection with. It's a thriving community of independent shops, and we are excited to be a part of it. Our aim is to create a relaxed, modern space with a real focus on quality in both the food and wine”.
