Westfield London announces food pop-up competition winner

Westfield London, in partnership with Tapas Revolution, has announced the UK’s best up-and-coming culinary talent following a cook-off at the shopping centre.

Mehak Kansal, founder of Bindas, an Indian fusion kitchen won Westfield’s Food Pop-Up Competition with her idea of combining traditional Indian flavours with British dishes.

Bindas has won a summer residency at the shopping centre and the pop-up kitchen will join the Westfield’s 80 dining outlets.

Mehak Kansal won over the judges with her dining concept, celebrating British ingredients in Indian cooking, having observed that traditional Indian ingredients are rarely fresh in the UK.
She plans to use recyclable, eco-efficient ways of presenting and cooking at the Bindas pop-up.

Four finalists were invited to participate in a live cooking pitch in front of a panel of judges including; Omar Allibhoy, chef and founder of Tapas Revolution, Richard Vines, Bloomberg’s chief food critic, Jonathan Prynn, London Evening Standard’s consumer business editor, Jeremy Pang, founder of School of Wok and Rachel Belam, Westfield’s head of food and beverage leasing.

Kansal impressed with a signature dish of ‘The Butter Chicken Bomb’ and she will receive personal mentoring from Allibhoy, who founded Tapas Revolution following advice from his mentors; Ferran Adria and Gordon Ramsay.

Myf Ryan, CMO Europe and group director of brand and strategic marketing for Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, said: “Westfield is passionate about innovation, particularly in the food and drink space. It’s clear we’re a nation of foodies as there were such strong entries to the competition.

“We’re thrilled that Mehak will join our 80-strong line-up of dining outlets at Westfield London, offering a unique experience to our shoppers.”