It’s your Passepartout to a world of flavour
Take a culinary trip around the world and raise cash for charity too, writes Dan Carrier

IT is a conundrum we are often faced with. You both fancy a meal – but your dining partner wants to eat something totally different to what your taste buds are hankering for. The answer is here.
Foggs, which opened in July, is a fusion restaurant that will take you round the world. Featuring four journeys – European, African, Asian and American – diners can choose from a menu that celebrates flavours and styles of cooking from all corners of the world.
Run by first time restaurateurs Simon Brigg and Joy Kuok (pictured)the menu came about after many hours of brainstorming.
Both are dedicated foodies, and decided to take the plunge after discussing what would be their ideal venue for their ideal meal. When they realised there was so much out there to be eaten and only so many meals in a day, the well-travelled duo decided to set up their own place. And rather than limit the diner to one style of food, they hunted for a chef who is happy with many different styles.
Graham Harris’s name came up. As a chef, he has experience across the board. He was one of the people behind Terence Conran’s Mezzo in Wardour Street, which was once the Marquee club and earned a reputation for original, modern European dishes.
He is well versed in seafood too. He was head chef at Belgos in Chalk Farm and has also helped Wagamamas develop their menus. And the three of them have developed a menu that offers much. Ranging from burgers any joint in the US would be proud to serve through to a Thai curry any discerning curryholic would smack their chops at, Foggs offers something different – and does it with panache.
And it gets better: if you want to sample the menu Foggs are offering the chance to work your way round the world for just a fiver.
The couple are offering a chance to sample the dishes if you come in before 7.30pm on Wednesday October 5 – and all the proceeds are going to the Camden New Journal’s annual Christmas Hamper appeal. “We both wanted to do something different,” said Joy, who went to Parliament Hill school and therefore knew the area: she chose Camden Town as her ideal venue for a restaurant of this type
“We had been brainstorming for some time and hit upon the idea of Phileas Fogg’s journey round the world: what would he have eaten?, we asked ourselves. And this is the answer.”
An example of the diversity on offer can be found in just the starters. The Iberian peninsula is represented by a Spanish summer vegetable broth, while those hankering for something Italian have two linguini based dishes to choose from.
The Far East is not overlooked. Those keen to head in that direction can choose from the Oriental seared chicken salad or Peking duck.
The main courses follow the same theme. The Irish beef, hung for 28 days, stood out from the European selection, while on the African menu ‘s highlights include a braised chicken based on an Egyptian dish. This boasts figs, almonds and preserved lemons – and has a cous-cous side order with pea and ginger. The Americas are represented with a grilled lobster and a bigger version of the spicy gumbo offered for a starter.
The Asian selection boasts a baked fish of the day. wrapped in a banana leaf, it’s flavoured with lime, chillies, coriander and ginger.
Add to this an extensive bar – with an accessible and well priced wine list the couple put together themselves – and the ambient atmosphere of Foggs makes it an ideal night out. And with the chance to try the chef’s skills for just a fiver on the first Wednesday of October, this is one world cruise that doesn’t cost the earth.

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• Foggs
18 Chalk Farm Road, NW1.
Call: 020 7428 0998.