An appetite for success
Talented chef Alex Boyd and his wife Virginia opened Kumquat in April 2022 and since then the Pantiles-based restaurant, which specialises in elevated Asian fusion cuisine, has won a host of culinary awards. The latest is a coveted second AA Rosette as Eileen Leahy discovers…
Alex Boyd is the chef patron and co-founder of Kumquat, alongside his wife Virginia. The couple opened their popular Pantiles restaurant in 2022 after Alex stepped away from a career that had seen him spend nearly three decades working in some of the world’s most prestigious kitchens.
The original plan was not to create an award-winning restaurant but a café that would offer a better work-life balance. However, after struggling to recruit a chef, Alex found himself back in the kitchen full-time.
His culinary roots are firmly grounded in classical French cooking, having worked with legendary chefs Joel Robuchon and Pierre Koffmann.
“Working alongside chefs of that calibre taught me discipline, precision, consistency and the importance of flavour,” says Alex. “Those foundations have stayed with me throughout my career.”
That career has taken him around the globe, including several years in Hong Kong, where he met his wife Virginia and developed a passion for Asian cuisine that continues to shape Kumquat’s menu today.
“I love discovering new ingredients and flavour combinations,” he explains. “We’ve worked hard to create a modern take on Asian cooking while maintaining a strong focus on seasonal produce and technical precision.”
The approach has clearly paid off. Since opening, Kumquat has received numerous accolades, including its first AA Rosette in January 2025. More recently, the restaurant was awarded a coveted second rosette – a significant recognition of the quality and consistency of its food.
The AA Rosette scheme has been recognising outstanding restaurants across the UK for more than 70 years and remains one of the country’s most respected measures of culinary excellence.
So what does it take to earn one?
“It comes down to technical ability, consistency and flavour,” explains Alex. “For two rosettes, inspectors are looking for more advanced cooking techniques and, importantly, clarity of flavour. What you describe on the menu should be exactly what the guest tastes.”
Alex discovered Kumquat had achieved the second rosette on the day the inspector visited.
“He told us immediately after he’d finished dining. We received the plaque a few days later and we’re incredibly proud of it.”
Alex admits that he’s fallen back in love with cooking and that renewed enthusiasm has driven him to continually refine and develop the restaurant’s offering.
“I’ve focused on pushing the technical side of the cooking, testing ideas and refining dishes. Recognition is always welcome, but the most important thing is that our customers are happy. We want every visit to offer something new while staying true to what people love about Kumquat.”
Dishes that impressed the AA inspector:
Starter
Scallops with yuzu kosho dressing, persimmon, cucumber, chilli and borage cress
Yuzu kosho is made from fermented yuzu and red chilli, aged for around three years. The chillies are aged in snow, removing bitterness and creating a clean, balanced heat. The persimmon is infused with yuzu, while the cucumber is compressed with its own skin to intensify flavour.
Main Course
Roasted hake with light laksa sauce, peas, broad beans, shaved asparagus and Thai basil oil
The hake is gently cooked in koji butter. Koji, a fermented rice culture used in soy sauce and miso production, adds subtle sweetness and seasoning. The fish is served with an in-house laksa sauce made from fish stock and coconut milk, alongside seasonal vegetables and fragrant Thai basil oil.
Dessert
Matcha panna cotta with blueberry compote, fresh blueberries, shiso and pomegranate
A delicate dessert where flavour balance and texture are key. The inspector specifically praised the clarity and definition of the natural flavours throughout the dish.
30 The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells TN2 5TN.
Tel: 01892 487556.
Visit: www.kumquat.restaurant
Socials: @kumquatrestaurant
