Hardens Bytes

A Sri Lankan entrepreneur has opened his first international outpost in Canary Wharf – Prawn Crazy, which he has ambitions to turn into a global brand. Apinash Sivagumaaran launched Isso (meaning prawn in Sinhala) ten years ago as a 16-seater dining spot in central Colombo, and has grown it to a group of five across Sri Lanka. He says he was obsessed with prawns from an early age.

A new Turkish-Cypriot restaurant from a former Bibi head chef kicked off a year-long residency at the Globe Tavern in Borough Market this week. Kismet is a joint production from chef Kieran Mustafa and restaurateur Dom Hardy, the man behind Bistro Freddie, Crispin and Canal. Kieran has worked in senior roles at some of London’s top kitchens, including Chez Bruce, the Harwood Arms and Oma as well as Bibi, the high-end Mayfair Indian restaurant where he was head chef at launch.

Chinese/Texan smokehouse Hon’s BBQ opens in Hackney Wick today, bringing founder Man Hon Luk’s slow-cooked meat with East Asian flavours to a permanent home with the help of a crowdfunding campaign that raised £36,000. Hong Kong-born Hon road-tested his barbecue skills with a two-year residency at nearby hangout All My Friends under the name Uncle Hon’s BBQ.