Rohit Chugh, the Founder of Roti Chai, has opened the Toddy Shop at Chai Ki, 1 Crossrail Place, Canary Wharf. Inspired by the coastal drinking dens of Southern India, infamous for their Palm Toddy and spicy snacks. Toddy Shop will be open from 7am until late serving up spicy Indian soul food alongside cocktails, craft ales and house infused beer. The restaurant at Chai Ki, a more formal affair, will open later this month.
Inspiration from the Malabar Coast
The menu, created by Rohit, formerly of The Cinnamon Club, will take inspiration from the bold flavours and spirit of the palm-lined Malabar Coast in Southern India. Breakfast and weekend brunch will include signatures such as Indian Chaas Buttermilk Pancakes (with bacon, blueberries and maple syrup); Kedgeree (smoked haddock, salmon, basmati, saffron, chilli, curry leaf, kale, samphire); Idli Sambar (steamed rice cakes with spiced lentil stew); and Full Nashta (bacon, anda bhurji, aloo tikki hash, masala beans (Rohit’s Mum’s recipe), spiced sausage and tomato).
To drink there will be ‘Blends and Juices’ like Kovalam Beach (lychee, guava, ginger ale and coconut); ‘Shakes’ such as Iced Chai and Cold Coffee; ‘Breakfast Liquor’ including the ‘Reincarnation’, an Indian take on the Bloody Mary, and a Chai Ki Toddy (Ceylon Arrack, pineapple and chai masala); and Monsoon Malabar coffee, masala chai, spiced hot chocolate, along with house blend pots of tea.
A dedicated bun menu will take pride of place, available to eat in or take away, listing Aloo Tikki Bun (spiced potato hash, fried egg, cheese), the Sausage Bun (chapli patty, fried egg, cheese) and the Bacon Bun (streaky bacon, fried egg), all served with house tamarind ketchup and the option of red chilli mayo.
The all day bar menu, available from midday is a combination of sharing plates, buns and kari including Koliwada Calamari (curry leaf, pickling spices, jaggery and roasted cumin); Dahi Puri (semolina shells, potato, sweet yoghurt and tamarind); Coorgi Pulled Pork (coconut, curry leaf, green chilli, Malabar paratha); Himalayan Ribs (Nepalese chilli rub, pineapple, bacon bhel); and Hyderabadi Duck (duck keema with saffron, rock moss, green cardamom).
Design
Toddy Shop was designed by Rohit, working with Design LSM and deploys a stripped back feel. The space is double height complete with mezzanine private room, a tiled and dark oak floor, encased strip lights, bespoke headlight lamps (recreating those found on cars and scooters in India), railway luggage racks, exposed structural steels and block work. An open kitchen, framed with concrete walls provides a backdrop to the space, and there are splashes of colour with textured green curtains marking the entrance, and turquoise leather banquette seats. The long, lit, blackened steel bar features a unique beer infuser and a ‘Toddy’ light-box.
Chai Ki, 1 Crossrail Place, London, E14 5AR
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