Top chef opens Marrakech Café in Canterbury

Dev Biswal (pictured), the owner-chef The Cook’s Tale (formerly The Ambrette), the renowned modern Anglo-Indian restaurant in Canterbury, has opened Café Marrakech in the city.

The new restaurant is a curated mixture of Moroccan elegance, authentic flavours, and traditional hospitality. with slow-cooked tagines, charcoal-grilled meats, hand-rolled couscous, vibrant salads, flaky pastries, freshly baked khobz, and sweet delights like semolina basbousa.

Each dish is prepared with authentic ingredients and bold spices, offering a rich, flavour-packed dining experience.

The space is flooded with warm light, vibrant colours, soft music, and spicy aromas,creating the heady atmosphere reminiscent of a Marrakech souk.

Biswal became inspired by north African cuisines after recruiting a Moroccan chef to join his brigade at The Cook’s Tale.  He quickly added the destination to his destinations of his small group culinary tours operation, The Cooks Adventures.

“Visiting Morocco for the first time was a real eye-opener – I was amazed by the similarities in Moroccan and Indian cuisines; our food and cultures have more in common than I could have possibly imagined” said Biswal, adding,” I grew up thinking samosas were an Indian invention!”

The parathas, koftas, naans and sharbat and curries Biswal ate in in local restaurants as a child – all have their equivalent in Morrocco

Closer to home, Dev also runs Canterbury Experiences which offers tailored 'culinary pilgrimages', taking in the local area's beautiful countryside, working closely with local partners and Visit Canterbury tourist office.  Details at

Dishes seek to showcase much of the locality's finest, sustainable local produce, mainly sourced from within 30 minutes of the kitchen.

Biswal grew up in Orissa in India, was educated in Calcutta and trained at the Dubai Sheraton, before moving to London, aged 26 in 2003 for spells at Mangoes and Eriki.

He became a partner in The Indian Princess in Margate in December 2006, becoming patron in 2010. His restaurant is recommended by all the country's top restaurant guides, including Michelin, AA, Good Food and Harden's. 

He was the resident chef on Channel 4 TV's 'Superscrimpers', showing how to prepare gourmet meals on a budget. Other awards have included. 'Best Restaurant' at the Taste of Kent Awards; 'Best Indian Restaurant' by Morrisons magazine; 'Best Restaurant in the Southeast' by the Cobra Good Curry Guide. He was named Asian Chef of the Year at the Asian Restaurant Awards.

The Cooks Tale  www.thecookstale.co.uk

The Cook’s Adventures www.thecooksadventures.com

Canterbury Experiences www.thecookstale.co.uk/experiences

Opening Hours:

Monday: 8:30am–11:30am (Tea & Coffee)

12:00pm–3:00pm (Lunch)

5:30pm–10:30pm (Dinner)

Tuesday & Wednesday: Closed

Thursday: 8:30am–11:30am (Tea & Coffee) 12:00pm–3:00pm (Lunch)

5:30pm–10:30pm (Dinner)

Friday to Sunday: 8:30am–11:00pm (All-day service)

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