Ben Allen and Cynthia Shanmugalingam to host collaborative wood-fired dinner at The Parakeet

On Wednesday 29^th October, chefs Ben Allen and Cynthia Shanmugalingam will collaborate on a one-off dinner event at the Kentish Town gastropub The Parakeet. The evening will feature a seven-course menu combining Allen’s wood-fired modern European cooking with Shanmugalingam’s Sri Lankan-inspired cuisine. 

Ben Allen is the head chef of The Parakeet, which opened in March 2023 and has since received critical attention for its seasonal, flame-cooked dishes. Cynthia Shanmugalingam is the founder of Rambutan, a Sri Lankan restaurant based in Borough Market. Rambutan also opened in 2023 and was recognised by the Michelin Guide within its first year. Shanmugalingam is the author of the cookbook Rambutan, which won the Fortnum & Mason Best Debut Cookbook Award in 2023.

The event is a culinary collaboration between the two chefs, both of whom centre their cooking around open-fire techniques. The menu will include dishes such as Flambéed Spiced Oysters, Flatbread with Smoked Curry Butter, Spiced Wood-roasted Mushrooms with cured egg yolk, and Sri Lankan Wood-roasted Crab Rice. A highlight will surely be a reimagined version of The Parakeet’s Wood-fired Sea Bream, featuring Shanmugalingam’s signature spice blends.

Speaking about the collaboration, Shanmugalingam said: “The The Parakeet is such a joyful place to eat and drink, and Ben leads an outstanding team of chefs, with vibrant, elegant, exciting fire cooking. I’m really excited for this menu and to cook with Ben, it’s a chance for us to push ingredients, technique and imagination, while staying true to the soul of the big Sri Lankan flavours I grew up with.”

Allen added: “I’ve admired Cynthia’s cooking for a long time and Rambutan is always the first on my list of places to eat when I get time off. The way she brings bold Sri Lankan flavours to life is really exciting. Collaborating with her on this menu has been a really fun project. We’ll be combining Rambutan’s vibrant, spice-driven dishes with our love of wood fire cooking to create something totally unique for one night only.”

Food Desk

The dinner, priced at £90 per person, will run from 6pm to 11pm. For further information and reservations, visit The Parakeet’s website here