Kiwi chef cooks in Gherkin

Monica Galetti

LONDON: Samoan-born New Zealand chef Monica Galetti is putting on a special menu at Searcys The Gherkin in the New Year.

The MasterChef judge was, until March, the senior sous-chef at Le Gavroche in Mayfair, where she had worked since 1999.

In the tip of the London skyscraper on the 39th floor, the restaurant will be open for lunch and dinner from January 8 until February 12.

"It's an exciting concept to create a menu for a limited public opening," she said.

Among the starters will be black curry scallops, beetroot-cured salmon with pickled beetroot and horseradish cream.

Mains will include glazed beef short rib with smoked bacon brussels sprouts, apple butter-glazed pork ribeye with mustard gnocchi, apple and Calvados jus. Dessert includes chocolate and peanut butter fondant with popcorn ice cream and Guinness floats.