This March, Number Eight, Sevenoaks will host a spring guest chef dinner with owner-chef Stuart Gillies, cooking alongside Erion Karaj, Executive Chef of The Groucho Club, London.

The menu takes inspiration from Erion’s Italian and Albanian roots, alongside Stuart’s early years in Rome, where he cooked at the Lord Byron Hotel in thetwo Michelin star restaurant, Relais Le Jardin. 

Taking place on Wednesday 4 March from 7.00pm, the one-night-only dinner will celebrate responsibly sourced local and artisan produce, cooked with precision and a respect for provenance. The specially curated menu will showcase the bounty of Kent alongside bright Italian flavours, with dishes including veal osso buco with risotto Milanese and wild garlic gremolata, followed by roasted white chocolate mousse with pink Champagne, rhubarb, and lemon verbena. 

The dinner marks a reunion between Stuart Gillies and Erion Karaj, whose professional relationship began in 2005 at Gordon Ramsay’s Boxwood Café, where Erion joined the kitchen as chef de partie under Stuart’s leadership as chef patron.

Over the following decade, Erion worked closely with Stuart across several Gordon Ramsay Group restaurants, including the Savoy Grill, before progressing to Executive Chef at Bread Street Kitchen and later group executive chef, overseeing multiple kitchens across the group throughout the 2000s and 2010s. In 2018, he moved on to join The Groucho Club as Executive Chef. 
 
Originally from Albania, Erion’s cooking is grounded in classic Italian artisan traditions, a foundation that continues to shape his approach in the kitchen. Since joining The Groucho Club, he has elevated its dining offer, creating a stronger culinary identity for members and guests alike. 

Stuart Gillies, owner of Number Eight, brings over 30 years’ experience from some of the world’s most respected kitchens, spanning Michelin-starred restaurants in Italy, Sweden, and New York, alongside London institutions including Le Caprice and The Connaught. Formerly CEO of the Gordon Ramsay Group, Stuart is now focused on Number Eight and Bank House in Chislehurst, championing local sourcing, seasonality, and ingredient-led cooking. 

This spring guest chef dinner promises a thoughtful, memorable evening, celebrating the shared history of two esteemed chefs, kitchen stories, seasonal cooking and the very best of Kent produce. 

Tickets are £85pp and Number Eight Members Club receive priority access. Tickets can be purchased via Seven Rooms. 

Number Eight 
8 London Road, Sevenoaks, TN13 1AJ 
no8sevenoaks.com | @no8sevenoaks 

 
Mon-Thu: 12pm-4pm, 5:30pm-10pm 
Fri-Sat: 12pm-11pm 
Sun: 12pm-6pm