Maria Elia at JOE’S Draycott Avenue.

Formerly known as JOE’S CAFE?, the JOSEPH owned restaurant JOE’S on Draycott Avenue announces the arrival of chef Maria Elia. JOE’S is a personal project, initiated and directed by JOSEPH CEO Sara Ferrero. Sara sought out Maria Elia and determined the design for a new look JOE’S with comfortable, red leather chairs, a background palate of mocha and brown marble, striking black and white portraits and a dramatic wall of wine on lovingly restored, reclaimed oak shelves.

Open throughout the day from breakfast through to dinner, anyone expecting the familiar dishes of the former kitchen brigade will be taken aback, for Maria is very much her own chef and has turned the menu on its head. Her concise and eclectic cooking has flavour at its heart and an underpinning of sustainability. A meal courtesy of Maria is light and yet nurturing, at times intriguing, at others comforting.
Despite its first class location, the prices are indisputably down-to-earth with starters comfortably below £10, all main courses under £20 and a ‘small desserts’ menu with an average price of £3.50 a plate. With anticipated menu changes occurring fortnightly, JOE’S opens with the likes of Pigeon, orange lentils, bitter leaves, pistachio aioli (£8.50) and Sea bream, broccoli couscous, pine nuts, sultanas (£15.95). The lunchtime set menu (2 courses £15, 3 courses £17) changes daily.

Although her official title is executive chef, Maria will not conduct from afar. In the kitchen at least three days per week, she’s the type of passionate, energetic chef who writes books, appears on TV, but most importantly cooks. From the age of four, Maria knew that she wanted to be a chef.

Through travelling, Maria has become practiced in many food cultures. She spent time cooking at some of Spain’s most legendary modernist restaurants, experiences which were to prove invaluable in her first head chef role at London’s DELFINA restaurant. Prior to taking charge of the South Kensington kitchen of JOE’S, Maria opened the WHITECHAPEL GALLERY DINING ROOM where she gained rave reviews and two AA rosettes.

A whirlwind of ideas, Maria has always enjoyed playing with people’s palates. These days however she has left molecular cuisine behind her and with the use of a flavour-obsessed imagination creates menus comprising of deceptively simple, multi-layered dishes.

Whilst preparing for the launch of JOE’S, Maria has been dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s on the manuscript of her second book – Create with Flavour – to be published by Kyle Books in September 2011.

JOE’S FACTS ADDRESS: 126 Draycott Avenue, London, SW3. TELEPHONE: 020 7225 2217

NUMBER OF COVERS: 70

OPENING TIMES: Monday – 9am to 5.30pm Tuesday to Saturday – 9am to 11pm Sunday – 10am to 5.30pm