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Well, this one hurts.
The innovative and frankly extraordinary Black Axe Mangal – currently known as FKABAM – will be closing its Islington restaurant at the end of the year, with the final night of service on December 20.
However, things aren’t properly ending for the restaurant. Chef-patron Lee Tiernan announced that though the restaurant will be bringing a close to regular service, they will still host events in the space. ‘This is a pause, not a stop. For now I want to focus my creative energy towards a ‘pop up’ within my own restaurant space.
Black Axe Mangal opened in 2015, following a trial pop-up in Copenhagen the previous year. Founders Lee and Kate Tiernan have said that further details on a special event, ‘A Decade of FKABAM’, will be announced soon.
Lee, who was head chef of St John Bread and Wine, showcased his Turkish grill-inspired nose to tail cooking at the restaurant, with dishes such as squid ink and cod’s roe flatbread, charred hispi cabbage with fermented shrimp butter and crispy rabbit.
‘Being original, creative and keeping it fun for ourselves – as well as our customers – has always been the centre of why we do this,’ said Lee in a statement. ‘So how do you celebrate 10 years of running a restaurant? Well, in our case, it’s changing things up while it still feels good. I love and value all we have achieved with FKABAM and will continue cooking in our unique style, turning up the volume at events and future collaborations.’
He continued: ‘It has been a somewhat difficult year outside the restaurant, but thanks to our brilliant, talented team, we’ve been able to step back a little to focus on our family, get some perspective, and this is where we’ve landed.’
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