Jonny Lake leaves Fat Duck for solo projects
Jonny Lake, the executive chef of The Fat Duck, is leaving the restaurant after 12 years to pursue personal projects. Lake joined The Fat Duck in 2005, working his way through the ranks to become head chef of the restaurant as well as head chef of the experimental kitchen. He says: 'I have been part of so many amazing projects during my time in Bray and also had the opportunity to work with many incredibly talented people. I have grown so much during this time, and I’m excited to explore the next chapter of my life.' Edward Cooke will remain as head chef at The Fat Duck.
Black Swan chef Tommy Banks to guest at Quo Vadis
Tommy Banks, chef-owner of The Black Swan at Oldstead, will leave the tranquility of the Yorkshire Dales for one night only when he cooks a special dinner at Soho’s Quo Vadis. Part of a series of Quo Vadis & Friends events planned throughout 2018, Banks will cook a four-course tasting menu of dishes from his new cookbook, Roots, on April 4. Tickets, priced at £55, will go on sale one month ahead of the dinner.
Oklava chef to open second restaurant
Selin Kiazim, the Turkish-Cypriot chef who runs Oklava in Shoreditch, is opening a second London restaurant in the spring. The new, as yet unnamed, restaurant is rumoured to be in Fitzrovia and will follow a similar modern Turkish style as Oklava. Prior to opening Oklava, Kiazim worked for Peter Gordon at The Providores in Marylebone, and she was one of the winners of BBC2’s Great British Menu in 2017.
8 Hoxton Square closes its doors
8 Hoxton Square, the East End sibling of Soho’s 10 Greek Street, has closed its doors. The modern European restaurant run by Luke Wilson and Cameron Emirali opened in February 2014. As well as 10 Greek Street, the pair also run all-day cafe and wine bar The Whitechapel Refectory on Whitechapel High Street.
Rohit Ghai to leave Mayfair's Jamavar
Award-winning chef Rohit Ghai has announced that he is leaving Mayfair’s Jamavar restaurant later this month. Ghai, who worked at Trishna and Gymkhana before joining Jamavar in 2016, hasn’t confirmed his next move although there are rumours that he has high profile new roles lined up in India and London.
