John Lewis serving up Tom Kitchin’s heritage menu

Tom Kitchin 2

Edinburgh chef Tom Kitchin teams up with John Lewis for their 150th anniversary celebrations.

To mark the important anniversary, John Lewis has unveiled an exclusive heritage menu designed by the top Michelin star chef.

John Lewis Edinburgh’s The Place to Eat restaurant will serve the 150th Heritage Menu, from 26 May to 29 June, transporting diners back to 1864 – the year the retailer opened its doors as a humble draper’s shop on London’s Oxford Street. The menu includes three dishes inspired by the kitchens of the 1860s; Sheep’s Heid Scotch Broth, Stargazy Fish Pie and Scottish Strawberry Fool.

Tom Kitchin 4

Each of the dishes developed by Tom Kitchin have been inspired by the John Lewis archives, as well as Tom’s research with the National Library of Scotland. Tom drew on old menus and recipes found in the archives giving them his own twist of Scottish flair. Tom has also been personally training the John Lewis chefs on how to perfect his inspirational recipes, which combine history and local heritage with a little Michelin star magic.

Tom Kitchin said: “In Scotland we are lucky to have such a rich culinary past. I’m incredibly passionate about discovering and recreating traditional, classic Scottish dishes so looking back in the archives and developing these recipes has been really interesting for me. Each of the dishes we’ve created are simple yet delicious and bring a little bit of history and fun to the John Lewis celebrations.

“I also had the opportunity to look through Beatrice Lewis’s recipe book. Beatrice was the wife of the founder of the John Lewis Partnership. Her recipes included gooseberry fool, roast mutton, pea soup and grouse served with bread sauce and game chips – all fantastic dishes that I in fact regularly cook myself today,”

Tom Kitchin 3

Barry Blamire, head of branch at John Lewis Edinburgh, said: “At John Lewis Edinburgh, our 150th anniversary celebrations are in full swing. John Spedan Lewis, the founder of the John Lewis Partnership was a great food-lover and told his staff, ‘for most people eating is one of the chief pleasures of life, immensely important to good temper and liveliness of mind.’ Spedan Lewis recognised the importance of enjoying food and dining and our 150th Heritage Menu celebrates this whilst offering our customers a new unique and exciting dining experience.”

The limited edition menu will be available from 26 May to 29 June in The Place to Eat at John Lewis Edinburgh and includes the following dishes:

  • Shiep’s Heid Scotch Broth (£6.25)
  • Stargazy Fish Pie (£8.95)
  • Scottish Strawberry Fool (£4.50)