As the National Restaurant Awards loom, the Chef of the Year Shortlist has been announced in the last few days. Meanwhile, there’s more Head Chef news, and a well-known North Yorkshire name takes on a well-known North Yorkshire pub.
National Restaurant Awards – Chef of the Year Shortlist
The Chef of the Year shortlist has been announced for the upcoming National Restaurant Awards next month. The star-studded list features names that have wowed the industry in the last 12 months.
Mark Birchall unsurprisingly makes the shortlist, after notching up a third Michelin Star at Moor Hall in Aughton, which has twice been named Restaurant of the Year at the awards.
A third star had been a long time coming, and in my opinion was inevitable, so when it finally came along it without doubt, would have made the surely countless hours of tweaking and perfecting worth every second.
Joining Birchall on the list is Kirk Haworth, another name that has had tongues wagging for years, but especially since he was crowned Great British Menu’s Champion of Champions early last year.
The Blackburn born, London-based chef has picked up repeated plaudits for his innovative plant-based menus at his restaurant Plates and puts up some very interesting competition for the title.
Another name joining the two Lancashirians, is Kim Ratcharoen, the new Chef de Cuisine at 3 Michelin Star Restaurant Gordon Ramsay.
She took on the role after the departure of Matt Abé who will be undertaking his first solo venture at the former Le Gavroche site.
Ratcharoen, whose origins are a little more exotic than the two above, was born in Thailand and takes on the prominent role within the UK’s highest profile restaurant group, having worked her way up from an Apprentice position under Abé.
You can see the full shortlist here.
Elly Wentworth
Following the sad announcement that Dartmouth’s Angel Inn would be closing its doors, attention quickly turned to where Executive Chef Elly Wentworth’s next steps would take her.
The talented chef earned a name for herself at the renowned restaurant, where she took over the kitchen at the tender age of 26 – an age at which I was half pretending I was still a student.
In truth, Wentworth had already been in kitchens for 13 years by that point, so it really was a testament to her dedication to her craft, having honed her trade in her younger years in Michelin Star kitchens such as The Elephant, The Bybrook and Restaurant Hywel Jones.
You might also recognise her face from Masterchef: The Professionals and Great British Menu.
It didn’t take long, in fact, for the announcement to be made that she will be taking over the Executive Chef role at Fowlescombe Farm and sister pub Millbrook Inn in Kingsbridge.
Welcome news for sure for her many culinary fans who will have been saddened at The Angel’s closure.
Tommy Banks
Ee by gum, we’re back up north now (sorry). Michelin Star chef Tommy Banks has launched a new pub group, Jeopardy Hospitality, with the first project to be a site we know well; The General Tarleton in Knaresborough.
The historic coaching inn has had a strong reputation for years, particularly as a foodie spot, and following the groups takeover will undergo a sympathetic restoration to breathe new life into the site.
It’s an exciting development for the gastro inn, and it’ll be one I’ll be sure to visit the next time I’m in the area.
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