When an invitation to VDeep, a craft beer and curry bar popped into our inbox, we definitely couldn’t say no!
A brand new partnership between celebrity chef and BBC Radio presenter – Hardeep Singh Kohli – and the award-winning team behind the Vintage Leith, VDeep brings together Scotland’s two great loves – craft beer and curry. Reimagined, reinvented and reincarnated in the space that formerly housed the Vintage Leith, VDeep offers drinkers and diners alike a mouthwatering menu of 10 keg craft beers, 3 cask craft beers, over 20 bottled beers and 21 contemporary Indian dishes.
Joining Hardeep Singh Kohli in the kitchen is Head Chef – Ruairidh Skinner. The pair have worked collaboratively together to create a menu that successfully fuses Indian and British cuisine while drawing inspiration from craft beer culture. The VDeep menu features original recipes such as ‘Bangras & Mash’, ‘Cauliflower Cheese Curry’ and ‘Pork Cheek Vindaloo’; all inspired by Hardeep’s childhood, craft beer culture and classic British cuisine.
Communal craft beer and curry pairing will be at the core of the VDeep experience, with craft beers from other 30 different breweries used to complement and contrast the flavours of the curries on offer.
Vindabrew – a limited edition guest beer brewed by Hardeep, Ruairidh 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.
Hardeep hopes the communal dining aspect will encourage visitors to engage in conversation and even share one another’s curry and beer choices:
“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.
On the opening night we wandered down to see what the fuss was about. When we arrived the place was already filling up. We quickly found a seat at one of the communal tables after carefully selecting our beer.
At our table there was a selection of chutney’s to try. There is no mango chutney to be found anywhere in VDeep. There was smoked tomato ketchup, apple and coriander and coconut chutney to try. Each was fantastic. Fresh and packing a might punch full of flavour. We couldn’t wait to sample some of the main dishes.
We got to try a selection of the mains. The pakoras confit coconut pork and cheesy peas were amazing. The coconut pork is magic. It has a great pork flavour without overpowering the coconut. Definitely one to try when you’re there. Mutton Achari – slow cooked leg of mutton in pickling spices was mouthwatering. The Dhal Makhani was some of the best dhal we’ve ever had. It’s a slow cooked three lentil dhal – turtle beans – urad dhal – red kidney beans. The flavours in it are fantastic. It’s definitely more than something you just put on the side of your plate. There was honey, whiskey and cumin infused chicken wings also on offer. If there wasn’t enough the food just kept on coming. There was Hardeep’s take on stovies which had melt in your mouth meat and lots of flavours. Dishes range from £5 – £7.50 and designed to be shared (although I don’t think Mr Edinburger will want to share!!)
The food was some of the best we’ve had in a long while. Every mouthful was jammed packed full of flavour. We can definitely see ourselves spending many Sunday afternoon’s here just drinking beer and eating very good food. It was an excellent night and the communal dining was fab.
Her x
VDeep | 60 Henderson Street, Edinburgh, EH6 6DE | 0131 563 5293 |
Twitter: @VDEEPLeith
Facebook:/vdeepleith
*Thanks to Paul Johnston, Copper Mango for the pictures. We were too busy eating and having a great time to take pictures. The two dodgy ones included are ours 🙂
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