Flash-grilled: Sam Lomas
The chef who recently launched Briar on the former Osip site in Bruton, Somerset, chats about his first industry job, and the best drink to pair with a Rolo dessert.
Chef
Staying power: Sat Bains on his near-death experience and marking 25 years of his Nottingham restaurant
A major heart attack might have softened the chef’s outlook on life, but his resolve to be the best is as strong as ever.
Cutting a dash: the Savile Row restaurant that’s making top-end dining look better than ever
With Row on 5, Jason Atherton and Spencer Metzger have created a restaurant that could redefine fine dining in the capital.
George Barson joins the team at Somerset’s Higher Farm
Former The Beckford Canteen and Kitty Fisher’s chef George Barson is now overseeing the food at Higher Farm near Castle Cary in Somerset.
Flash-grilled: Nima Safaei
The founder and executive chef of London restaurants 64 Old Compton Street and 40 Dean Street on his love of Soho, why kale is overrated, and pairing pickles with champagne.
David Thompson: “London’s Thai restaurant scene is much the richer. I’m here to drag it down”
Twelve years on from the closure of Nahm, the high-profile Australian chef has returned to the capital with the launch of Long Chim. And he hasn’t lost any of his wicked wit or charm.
The Beefy Boys: “We look at our menu like we do our children, it’s hard to have favourites”
Anthony ‘Murf’ Murphy, co-founder of burger quartet The Beefy Boys, on almost claiming the title of World’s Best Burger, the rise of the Oklahoma-style patty, and his group’s future plans.
Adam Byatt to open waterside British brasserie in Fulham
Trinity chef Adam Byatt will launch a modern British brasserie at upcoming West London development Fulham Pier in spring next year.
Tommy Banks’s stolen pie van found ‘badly damaged’
Tommy Banks has confirmed that a van carrying £25,000 of handmade pies, which was stolen earlier this week, has been found ‘badly damaged’ and will ‘almost certainly be written off’.
Tommy Banks loses £25,000 of pies in robbery
Tommy Banks says he has lost £25,000 of stock after a van carrying handmade pies he planned to sell at a Christmas market in York was stolen.
Andrew Fairlie Scholarship announces 2024 winner
Entier head chef Andrew Clark has won the 2024 Andrew Fairlie Scholarship.
Flash-grilled: Nicholas Balfe
The chef director and owner of Holm in Somerset on learning from bad reviews, standing to up snidey customers, and the many great uses of a mandolin.
Tommy Heaney and Dave Killick’s upcoming Cardiff venture to be called Ember
Tommy Heaney and Dave Killick’s upcoming Cardiff restaurant has been revealed as Ember and will serve an ‘anything but Italian’ menu that will include hand-rolled pasta, house-made charcuterie, and seasonal game dishes.
Ollie Dabbous to leave Hide after seven years
Ollie Dabbous will step down from his role as chef patron at Michelin-starred Mayfair restaurant Hide early next year.
No pain, no gain: the gym fanatic gunning to be the UK’s next two-star chef
After a string of failed casual ventures things finally look to be working out for Humble Chicken chef patron Angelo Sato.
Flash-grilled: Harry Farrow
The head chef at Sol’s wine bar in London's Bayswater on his first job, memories of Heinz tomato soup, and his favourite food and drink pairing.
The Clove Club and LUCA trio part company
The Clove Club Group co-founders Isaac McHale, Johnny Smith and Daniel Willis have announced their amicable parting of ways.
Book review: Café Cecilia
Max Rocha's cookbook is a celebration of finding simplicity and beauty in fresh, seasonal, unfussy and incredibly pleasing food.
More than moussaka: Andreas Labridis on pioneering modern Greek cuisine in London
The former investment banker and his chef counterpart Nikos Roussos are celebrating 10 years of their influential Marylebone restaurant OPSO.
Russian chef Alexei Zimin passes away
Alexei Zimin, executive chef of Russian restaurant ZIMA in Soho, has died.
LONG READ
The world according to James Lowe
As Lyle’s celebrates its 10th birthday, its chef-patron reflects on the highs and lows of running one of London’s most progressive restaurants.
Attend our free Discovery Day in London this month
Restaurant has partnered with the European Union to create a one-day food and drink event for chefs and restaurant businesses looking to enhance their menus.
Flash-grilled: Halil Şimşek
The head chef at Leydi in London's Farringdon on how his early career working a kebab stall in Turkey led to a career in kitchens.
Dipna Anand to ‘blend Indian flavours with Western classics’ at new Southall restaurant
Dipna Anand will expand her presence in Southall early next year with a fusion restaurant within the West London town’s upcoming The Green Quarter mixed use development.
Paul Welburn to depart Oxfordshire’s The Swan Inn early next year
Paul Welburn will leave the Cygnet restaurant at Oxfordshire’s The Swan Inn early next year.
Tom Shepherd promotes Michael Blades to head chef, reveals plans to open a second more informal restaurant
Michael Blades has been promoted to the role of head chef at Michelin starred restaurant Upstairs by Tom Shepherd.
Theo Sanchez: “cooks that work in great places learn a lot but are rarely able to create”
The French-born chef has launched a guest chef series with a difference at East Sussex restaurant Dill.
Lainston House’s The Avenue to relaunch with Tom Hamblet as head chef
Lainston House’s flagship restaurant The Avenue will relaunch late next month with MasterChef: The Professionals winner Tom Hamblet at the helm.
April Lily Partridge plans ‘next chapter’ as she departs The Ledbury
April Lily Partridge, 2023’s Roux Scholar, has left her role as sous chef at The Ledbury in London’s Notting Hill, describing the restaurant as a ‘huge chapter’ in her life and career.
How Netflix star chef Guirong Wei is taking Xi’an cuisine global
The Shaanxi-born chef behind Master Wei and the more recently launched Dream Xi’an has been head hunted by Netflix’s Chef’s Table series to explore the noodle dishes of her home province.
Jamie Oliver to launch Café and Cookery School on Oxford Street
Jamie Oliver is to launch a new flagship Cookery School and Café next spring within John Lewis & Partners department store on Oxford Street in central London.
Rowley Leigh to oversee the food at City institution The Don
Rowley Leigh is making a return to London's restaurant scene next month, overseeing the food at City institution The Don.
Ukrainian restaurant Mriya relaunches with new chef and ‘refreshed’ concept
Ukrainian ‘neo bistro’ Mriya in London’s Earl’s Court will relaunch later this month with a new executive chef and ‘refreshed’ concept that features an emphasis on fire-grilled dishes.
Moveable feast: how to relocate a restaurant… and take your regulars with you
The days of restaurants staying in one location forever are over - now it can pay to stay nimble. But how do successfully pull off a change of address?
Flash-grilled: Niaz Caan
The chef behind Paro in London's Covent Garden, recently named restaurant of the year at the Asian Restaurant and Takeaway Awards, on leaving finance for a career in kitchens.
Winners Announced for 2024 Be Inclusive Hospitality Spotlight Awards
Chefs including Romy Gill and Mandy Yin were among the winners of the third annual Be Inclusive Hospitality (BIH) Spotlight Awards.
People on the move: October 2024
New senior chef roles at Midsummer House, Ekstedt at The Yard, Sète, and Rick Stein Restaurants are among this month's key personnel changes.
Akbar's owner Shabir Hussain dies
Shabir Hussain, the chef known affectionately as the ‘king of curry’, has died at the age of 56.
Flash-grilled: John Keenan
The head chef at Glasgow restaurant 55 Bearsden Cross on his past life in the music industry and why he swapped that career for one in restaurants.
LONG READ
“This is Mexico’s moment”: Santiago Lastra on the rise of his national cuisine
The chef behind KOL has been a driving force in London’s Mexican fine dining scene. With his newly-opened sister restaurant Fonda, he’s now tackling the more casual end.
Tom Booton: “All producers getting a good deal should be an important part of our food system”
The chef behind The Grill by Tom Booton on becoming an ambassador for Farm Africa, a UK-based charity that works with farmers to unlock the transformative potential of sustainable and effective agriculture.
National Restaurant Awards launches hunt for Rising Stars of the industry
The National Restaurant Awards (NRA) is looking for nominations for a new initiative that celebrates the rising stars of the industry.
Flash-grilled: Alice Power
The head chef at the Michelin-starred Black Swan in Oldstead on swapping the Civil Service for the kitchen, a particularly hairy commute, the best food to pair with Dr Pepper.
Orry Shand crowned National Chef of the Year 2024
Orry Shand, executive chef at Entier Ltd, Scotland’s largest independent catering company, has been crowned National Chef of the Year 2024
Finalists announced for 2024 Andrew Fairlie Scholarship
The Hospitality Industry Trust (HIT) Scotland has revealed the five finalists that will compete for this year’s Andrew Fairlie Scholarship.
Calum Franklin to oversee evening menu at newly relaunched The Georgian restaurant in Harrods
Former Holborn Dining Room chef and self-styled pie master Calum Franklin is returning to London to oversee the evening menu at Harrods’ The Georgian restaurant when it relaunches next month.
Flash-grilled: Ross Caithness
The head chef at An Cala Ciuin on the Isle of Mull on how Instagram has benefitted chefs, his dream dinner party, and the joy of pairing KFC with caviar.
Flash-grilled: Jack Bond
The head chef at The Cottage in the Wood in Cumbria on hating pizza as a kid, owning your mistakes, and his brush with death on the Central Line.
Francesco Mazzei: I want to go back to my L’anima days
It’s been more than 15 years since the Calabrian chef opened L’anima in the City of London. With next year’s launch of a restaurant within the Corinthia London hotel, he’s returning to his southern Italian roots.
Carlo Cracco to make UK debut with Eataly London restaurant
High-profile Milan-based chef restaurateur and TV personality Carlo Cracco will make his UK debut next month with a restaurant at Eataly London.