Dorian Janmaat set to open his debut restaurant, Ardor

Former head chef of the prestigious Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons in Oxfordshire, Dorian Janmaat is set to open his debut restaurant, Ardor, on Fore Street next month. The restaurant pays homage to Dorian's love for both the Mediterranean coast and Cornwall, where he spent much of his upbringing.

Having honed his skills at acclaimed establishments such as The Idle Rocks Hotel and Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, Dorian presents a menu that celebrates simplicity, seasonality, and vibrant flavours.

The Menu

Many of the dishes will be nostalgic for Dorian, bringing back memories of long summer lunches with his family on the Spanish coast.

Ardor's dry-cured meats (Image: Meor Design)

Open for lunch and dinner, the small plates menu, inspired by tapas and mezze concepts, allows guests to try a bit of everything and enjoy all the produce and authentic flavours from both Cornwall and Andalusia.

Plates such as Fritto Misto: Calabrian chilli aioli with burnt lemon showcase the finest Cornish seafood, alongside Ardor's rotisserie chicken, on show at the face of the kitchen, creating a touch of theatre for those seated at the chef's counter.

Another highlight is the Josper Grill with dishes such as monkfish tail, nduja and samphire sauce or Chistorra sausage, lentil, and pimentón stew.

Many of the dishes will be nostalgic for Dorian, bringing back memories of long summer lunches with his family on the Spanish coast (Image: Meor Design)

Then there are the dry-aged cuts; including the very best cuts of Iberico pork tomahawk, cooked over the charcoal, and served with a choice of salsa.

Other plates include Spanish treats such as croquetas of the day, gambas al ajilo, and moules Provençal along with daily specials and a fresh fish counter with the daily catch from family-run St Ives institution since 1948, Matthew Stevens Fish.

The Chef

Dorian Janmaat (Image: Meor Design)

Much of Dorian's childhood was spent in Spain, where he found a love for Mediterranean cooking and the way of life associated with those countries' cultures. Most memorable for him was their respect for produce, simple cooking, and sharing with family and friends.

These have formed the foundations of Ardor's hospitality.

Dorian said: “It has been a lifelong dream of mine to open a restaurant, and I can’t wait to throw open Ardor’s doors and welcome visitors, locals, friends, and family in the best way we know how – with beautiful food and wine.

“Ardor aims to offer delicious plates, using the best produce, selected for its quality and flavour, enriched by cooking with care and simplicity."

The Restaurant

Ardor is located on Fore Street, St Ives (Image: Meor Designs)

In the heart of St Ives on Fore Street, Ardor welcomes guests across an upstairs and lower restaurant, a bar area, and a chef's counter for that little bit of theatre.

With a combination of counter seating and individual tables accommodating up to 60 covers in total, diners can opt to sit in any of four areas.

The upstairs restaurant offers larger tables as well as cosy 'twos' in the window, bistro-style, and the chef's counter, with a viewing of the chefs stoking the fires of the rotisserie and Josper grill.

Ardor is set to open its doors on July 8 and will be open daily for lunch (12-3pm), dinner (5-9pm) and pintxos (smaller dishes typically served at the bar) (3-5pm).

Reservations will open from this Friday (June 21). For reservations and more information,  visit Ardor’s website ardorstives.co.uk or Instagram @ardor_stives