A taste of North Africa arrives in Canterbury
Dev Biswal, owner-chef of the acclaimed The Cook’s Tale (formerly The Ambrette), has opened a new venture in Canterbury: Café Marrakech.
The new restaurant offers a curated blend of Moroccan elegance, authentic flavours, and traditional hospitality, featuring slow-cooked tagines, charcoal-grilled meats, hand-rolled couscous, vibrant salads, flaky pastries, freshly baked khobz, and delightful sweets 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.
From Canterbury to Morocco: the inspiration
Biswal was inspired by North African cuisines after hiring a Moroccan chef for his team at The Cook’s Tale. He quickly added this destination to the list of places he offers on his small group culinary tours, The Cook’s Adventures.
“Visiting Morocco for the first time was a real eye-opener – I was amazed by the similarities between 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, sharbat, and curries Biswal ate in local restaurants as a child all have their equivalents in Morocco.
Closer to home, Dev also runs Canterbury Experiences, which offers personalised ‘culinary pilgrimages’ through the beautiful local countryside, working closely with local partners and the Visit Canterbury tourist office.
Dishes aim to showcase much of the locality’s finest, sustainable local produce, mainly sourced from within 30 minutes of the kitchen.
A career shaped by global flavours
Biswal grew up in Orissa, India, was educated in Calcutta, and trained at the Dubai Sheraton before moving to London at the age of 26 in 2003 for spells at Mangoes and Eriki.
He became a partner in The Indian Princess in Margate in December 2006, then took on the role of patron in 2010. His restaurant is praised by all of the country’s leading restaurant guides, including Michelin, AA, Good Food and Harden’s.
He was the resident chef on Channel 4 TV’s ‘Superscrimpers’, demonstrating how to prepare gourmet meals on a budget. Other awards include ‘Best Restaurant’ at the Taste of Kent Awards, ‘Best Indian Restaurant’ by Morrisons magazine, and ‘Best Restaurant in the Southeast’ by the Cobra Good Curry Guide. He was also named Asian Chef of the Year at the Asian Restaurant Awards.
