MasterChef The Professionals finalist Santosh Shah helps ensure opening of new Nepalese Vansa Ghar restaurant in Stamford is a success

A new restaurant opened its doors on Monday night with a menu specially created by a MasterChef The Professionals finalist.

Santosh Shah, who competed in the television series in 2020, helped co-owner and head chef Ananta Ghimbre create a spectacular five-course tasting menu to mark the opening of Nepalese Vansa Ghar in Broad Street.

Among the guests during the sold-out evening was mayor of Stamford David Taylor with wife Karen, who were enjoying their second engagement in the role and described the evening as “amazing”.

A wishing well with a floating Buddha is at the centre of the restaurant and images by renowned photographer Johnny Fenn, taken during his many trips to Nepal with the Gurkha Welfare Trust, adorn the walls of the restaurant. Johnny was there as a guest.

During the meal, Santosh took time to speak to diners about his food and his experience on MasterChef. He said he tries to “discover the best Nepalese food to help other people discover it too”. He described Ananta as a “great chef”.

Ananta, who previously worked as a chef at the former 8848 in Broad Street, said he had been keen to open his own venture, to bring a modern twist to Nepalese food.

The menu on Monday included Hans ko chhoila (duck breast), fulaura (cheese and mushroom dougnuts), Nepalese-style goat curry, Vansa Ghar chicken butter masala and a dessert by Santosh of Kodo ko millet, timmur and saffron marinated chargrilled pineapple with caramelised lotus seeds.

A raffle also raised money to help Ukraine.