Mid-June 2021, acclaimed chef-owner Jessi Singh will open his “unauthentic Indian” restaurant Daughter in Law on Fletcher Street, Byron Bay. 100% of all proceeds from the opening night will go to a three-pronged initiative close to his heart, which directly supports Indian people through COVID.
This is not your typical Indian joint. Singh has been mastering the art of what he calls ‘unauthentic Indian’ food for many years now, and will be blending the flavours he grew up on with local Northern Rivers ingredients and new cooking techniques.
“I like working with what surrounds me. Yes, I’m Indian, but I live in Australia and I’m also Australian,” he says.
The menu at Daughter in Law Byron will be more coastal style “unauthentic Indian” and it’s important to note that this is going to be a very different Indian restaurant that’s ambitious and playful, and encapsulates the Byron Bay lifestyle with an emphasis on seafood, vegan and gluten-free fare.
Singh describes his food as “unauthentic” because, in his view, “there is no such thing as authentic Indian food. There are no recipes, and everything is passed on through the generations in the kitchen verbally. Daughter in Law represents my travel journey throughout the world, so it’s global food with an Indian twist; these recipes will be passed on to my children”.
Singh is already building relationships with local brands (food, drink, producers) and intends to visit the famous Byron Bay farmers market weekly to harness the exceptional produce available in the Northern Rivers.
Celebrated sommelier Bhatia Dheeraj will be overseeing the extensive wine list, which includes local producers alongside interstate and overseas drops. All beverages, including a line-up of beers and ciders, can be found in self-serve fridges. For cocktails, there’s an Indian spiced sangria – a mixture of red wine, sweet vermouth, and orange – as well as the Daughter in Law, which is made with Byron’s favourite Brookie’s gin, a tandoori-fired pineapple and cardamom lime.
The 65-seat restaurant will have a vibrant atmosphere with daily DJs spinning 80s and 90s tunes to get the party started, while projected scenes from famous Bollywood films will flicker on the walls. Green and blue velvet seating, handmade glasses with rainbow peacocks, gold touches (a colour that traditionally symbolises wealth and prosperity in India) and a pink neon sign will add to the buzzing space.
“We don’t take things seriously, but we’re very serious hospitality people. That’s the goal; to be fun and relaxed, not to be stuffy,” says Singh.
Daughter In Law Byron Bay
22 Fletcher Street, Byron Bay NSW 2481
Open 7 nights, 5pm–late
www.daughterinlaw.com.au
@dil_byron
Jessi Singh’s ‘unauthentic Indian’ restaurant Daughter in Law will open in Byron Bay
