NOPI APPOINTS ELAINE GOAD AS NEW HEAD CHEF

15/04/2024

NOPI, in London’s Soho, is delighted to announce the appointment of Elaine Goad as Head Chef, the restaurant’s first female chef since its inception over a decade ago. Seamlessly blending the influence of her Filipino heritage with the spice, fire and joy of an Ottolenghi restaurant, Goad ushers in a new era for NOPI, with a menu that will introduce modern and diverse flavours from across Southeast Asia.

With the nuanced understanding of a chef who has worked within the Ottolenghi group for 8 years, Goad’s cooking will stay true to the vibrancy of NOPI’s menu whilst incorporating treasured ingredients and tastes from her ‘comfort zone’ of Eastern Asian food. This is perfectly encapsulated in Roasted rump cap with gochujang and coffee butter, where the sweet bitterness of coffee cuts through a spicy umami of the fermented chilli sauce, and Black tea chocolate ganache with whisky caramel, where any overt sweetness is offset by the fragrant black tea.

Influenced by the diverse and dynamic cultures of her upbringing between Hong Kong and the Philippines, Goad’s cooking sits at the intersection of heritage and innovation, stirred by the fond memories of communal dim sum dinners and the umami-filled food served within her family by her mother and grandfather. Goad will serve seasonal delights Runner beans with coconut brittle and a pineapple sambal, whilst a Chickpea tofu will be garnished with coconut chutney and chilli oil, in dishes that balance fire and flavour with intention and skill, yet remain authentic to her.

Goad’s journey to NOPI is an Ottolenghi success story. Raised in Hong Kong, Goad studied at culinary school in the Philippines before moving to the UK in 2015. Beginning her career in the ever popular delis, Goad began within the Ottolenghi group almost a decade ago, instrumental in the opening of newer locations to settle the kitchen team. She took up a permanent position in Ottolenghi Chelsea as Head Chef from 2021 until early 2024, before moving to NOPI earlier in the year.

Set in the heart of London’s West End, NOPI remains one of Soho’s most beloved restaurants. Opening in 2011, and lovingly referred to by the team as Ottolenghi’s first ‘grown up’ restaurant, the menu is renowned for pioneering a small and larger plate format, along with serving ‘sunshine’ food broadly based on Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and Asian flavours in a slick and polished interior. Standout classics have emerged over the years, and have remained since opening, such as the Valdéon cheesecake - a baked, savoury main using a bold Spanish blue cheese. Interiors come courtesy of longtime friend and collaborator, Alex Meitlis, mixing striking white marble and gold details showcasing a mix of textures and playful materials.

Of Goad’s appointment, Yotam says:

‘Elaine has undergone a meteoric rise at Ottolenghi, from kitchen porter to commis chef, salad chef to head chef. It’s fair to assume that all of her years of work have given her an incredible drive that, combined with great talent, has made her the extraordinary chef she is today. We’re so excited to see what she does at NOPI - I’m confident that the menu will thrive under her guidance.’

NOPI is located at 21-22 Warwick Street, W1B, and opens Monday - Sunday for lunch and dinner, with a pre-theatre menu served Monday to Friday.