An Ipswich chef-entrepreneur has achieved his dream of opening up his own restaurant in London’s Chinatown.
Patrick Cheung, who has branched out from his Aqua Eight base in Ipswich to create the new business in Soho, was raised in Colchester, where his parents introduced some of the UK’s first Chinese restaurants to East Anglia in the 1960s.
He was educated at St Joseph’s College, Ipswich, and trained as a chef in his father’s restaurants.
He was executive chef at Aqua Eight, a national award-winning pan-Asian cuisine business which he co-owns with his brother, Vincent.
He also co-owns and designed the menus and concept for the Mizu Noodle Bars businesses in Cornhill in Ipswich and in Brentwood.
Orient London in Wardour Street has been open to the public since June and serves authentic Cantonese, Szechuan and dishes from the northern regions of China.
It specialises in seafood and freshly-made dim sum and retains a focus on well-priced Chinese food which appeals to the local communities and the large number of visitors to the capital.
Patrick said: “Ever since I left school it’s been my ambition to open an elegant and authentic Chinese restaurant right in the heart of Chinatown. Our team spent a considerable amount of time exploring and comparing the local food offering and it’s been encouraging to see how Orient London has such broad appeal to different audiences, including the local Chinese community.”
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