The Aubrey launches Youkoso, its first-ever guest chef takeover series spotlighting female talent

This month, The Aubrey at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park opens its kitchen for Youkoso, a new guest chef series celebrating women in food.

Running over three weekends from September through November, Youkoso (meaning “welcome” in Japanese) marks the first time the restaurant has invited external chefs to take over its menu. Each two-night residency will be headed up by a different female chef, who will bring their distinct heritage and flavours to The Aubrey’s celebrated izakaya setting.

Kicking the series off are The Rangoon Sisters. On 8 and 9 September, the British-Burmese siblings Emily and Amy Chung will collaborate with The Aubrey’s chefs to create a soulfully spiced, flavour-packed menu inspired by their heritage.

On 6 and 7 October, Ana Da Costa, founder of Fat Tea and a rising star of modern Macanese cuisine, will blend East and West cuisine in elegant and nostalgic ways to create a menu packed with warmth and tradition.

The series concludes on 3 and 4 November with award-winning chef and author Julie Lin. Her menu is inspired by her Malaysian-Scottish background and really packs a punch.

Each multi-course menu is priced at £80 per guest and will be accompanied by a bespoke welcome cocktail crafted by The Aubrey’s award-winning mixologists – each one a tribute to the guest chefs’ childhood memories.

Reservations can be made via The Aubrey’s website. Don’t miss out!