MasterChef: The Professionals 2019 semi-finalist Malin De Silva named head chef at Paradise
Malin De Silva is announced as the next head chef at Paradise, Soho. Malin joins the Paradise family, including owner Dom Fernando, front of house Sam Jones (former Wasps Rugby player) and Ellen Vesser as Head Bartender.
Malin De Silva joins from the position of senior chef de partie at the Latymer restaurant in Pennyhill Park, Surrey and Marc Wilkinson’s second chef at Fraiche in Oxton. He was also a semi-finalist on MasterChef: The Professionals (2019). Sri Lankan born, Malin first trained as a hand-crafter in jewellery design, but spent his nights working in kitchens. His true passion of becoming a chef meant he spent every free moment training in kitchens or creating pop-ups in his neighbourhood in Sri Lanka, a synergy with Paradise’s origins as a supper-club.
The summer menu includes a selection of short eats, sharing curries and plates as well as a selection of hoppers, roti and sambal, some highlights include:
Mackerel stuffed malu-miris chilli capsicum, lime, curry leaf mayo
Breadfruit patty empanadas, pineapple ketchup
Grilled Ceylonese spiced langoustines, mango chutney, papaya and palm heart
Cured sea bass, coconut, chilli, lemongrass, lunu-miris, shiso
Triple cooked devilled new potatoes, rampe, chilli, curry leaf, puffed potato
Grilled eight spiced Mangalitza pork belly skewers, southern tamarind, crackling
Beetroot and caraway seed hopper, asparagus and tomato sambol
Hand-stretched paratha roti, coconut and lovage butter
Paradise was first opened by restaurateur Dom Fernando, inspired by the eternal energy of the spirited streets of Colombo.
The restaurant was awarded a Bib Gourmand in the 2021 edition of the Michelin Guide. Paradise is ingredient focused cooking with a fiery island accent, unwrapping modern-day Sri Lanka and its rich food culture, drawing on family recipes influenced by Portuguese, Malay, South Indian, and Dutch cuisines. Each element of Paradise is considered, from the hand-crafted crockery and tiles to the home-infused seasonal iced teas and punch.
Paradise is the vision from owner Dominic Fernando, captivated by his grandmother’s cooking and enchantment of native Sri Lanka.
Paradise works exclusively with responsible, passionate farmers and fishermen, guided by weather patterns, and produce. Paradise uses largely British produce, with Sri Lankan spice.
