Eat Jersey Food Festival 2023 – Meet the Chefs
The Atlantic Hotel and Ocean Restaurant is gearing up to host a stellar line up of chefs for the Eat Jersey Food Festival in March 2023. Renowned chef’s from around the UK are set to join Executive Chef, Will Holland and Head Chef, Adam Braithwaite for four days of gourmet dining which promise to be a true celebration of Jersey produce and hospitality.
The kitchen at the 4 AA Rosette Ocean Restaurant is under the expert leadership of Will Holland who moved to Jersey in 2017 to take up the role of executive chef. Will began his career at Homewood Park in Bath working under Chef Gary Jones, and subsequently held positions at some of the finest establishments across the UK including Gravetye Manor in Sussex. He joined L’Ortolan Restaurant in Berkshire in 2004 where he was soon promoted to head chef and in 2007 he opened L’Ortolan’s sister restaurant La Bécasse in Ludlow. It was here that Will earned his first Michelin star at the age of 29, just 18 months after opening the restaurant. 2014 marked a change for Will with the opening of Coast Restaurant in Pembrokeshire, Wales.
Will is joined in the kitchen by head chef Adam Braithwaite. Adam began his career at La Bécasse, where he first teamed up with Will Holland, then moved to The Samling Hotel in Windermere as a chef de partie before becoming acting head chef. He also spent time at the Isle of Eriska Hotel in Scotland as sous chef.
Heading the line up for Eat Jersey 2023 is Michel Roux Jr, world renowned, 2 Michelin star chef, television personality and owner of Le Gavroche in London. After a stint at the Mandarin Hotel in Hong Kong, he returned to London and worked at La Tante Claire before joining the family business. He took over running Le Gavroche from his father in 1991. In November 2010, he opened Roux at The Landau at London’s prestigious luxury hotel, The Langham. Michel further strengthened his relationship with The Langham and in 2015 announced that Chez Roux Ltd would operate the hotel’s food and beverage outlets and conference and events banqueting, to include Palm Court and Private Dining by Roux. In 2017, The Langham and Michel launched The Wigmore, a new modern British tavern located on Regent Street.
Michel also has a prestigious television career, fronting MasterChef: The Professionals, Great British Food Revival,BBC2’s Food and Drink and most recently, Michel Roux’s French Country Cooking, as well as launching his ninth cookbook, The French Revolution, in 2018.
Michel Roux Jr said:
“I’m thoroughly looking forward to visiting Jersey again, and I’m excited to take part in the festival alongside a fantastic line up of chefs. It’s going to be great working alongside Will and using some wonderful local Jersey produce for what promises to be a very special evening.”
The Atlantic is also delighted to welcome Bryn Williams. Hailing from North Wales, Bryn has previously worked under Marco Pierre White and Michel Roux Jr and is now chef patron of Odette’s in London and owner of Porth Eirias on the Welsh coast. Previous to this, he has worked under Marco Pierre White at The Criterion, Michel Roux at Le Gavroche for three years and he was senior-sous chef at The Orrery for four years.
Bryn Williams said:
“I am really looking forward to bringing a taste of Odette’s and Porth Eirias to The Atlantic Hotel, using some of the finest ingredients Jersey has to offer.”
Five exciting chefs will be teaming up for a spectacular five course dinner to launch the festival on Thursday 23 March.
Liam Dillon is chef and owner of award-winning, The Boat Inn in Lichfield, Staffordshire. With previous experience in some of London’s and the world’s best kitchens, think Marcus Wareing at The Berkeley, Eleven Madison Park, Daniel, Gilt, and Tom Sellers’ Story, Liam has returned to his hometown with the goal of raising the bar of Birmingham’s dining scene via the opening of his first solo venture, in 2017.
Tim Spedding is owner of Lola’s in Cornwall, a small creative food led company hosting supper clubs and events. He was formerly head chef of the award winning Clove Club in Shoreditch, where he worked for three and a half years earning 1 Michelin Star and recognition as one of the world’s best restaurants at the Restaurant Magazine’s annual awards. Prior to The Clove Club he worked for four years at The Ledbury in Notting Hill at a time when the restaurant won 2 Michelin Stars.
Ian Swainson is a chef who has won a multitude of accolades, including a Michelin Star, with over 20 years experience, working for some of the best chefs in Europe. Having previously worked at L’Ortolan and then La Bécasse in Ludlow, Ian went on to open his own restaurant, Amarillo in Brighton.
Chris O’Callaghan is head chef at The Devonshire Arms Hotel and Spa in Bolton Abbey, heading up their Burlington Restaurant and The Brasserie. He developed his culinary skills in some of south of England’s most prestigious restaurants, most notably Gravetye Manor, L’Ortolan and Paris House. He then went on to enjoy head chef roles at Linthwaite House Hotel, The Castle Dairy in Kendal and Goldsborough Hall.
Andy Lynam has recently joined Chris O’Callaghan at The Devonshire Arms, the latest step in a flourishing career. To date he has worked in top flight kitchens including The Box Tree Inn in Yorkshire, La Bécasse, The Wild Rabbit and Coast Restaurant in Pembrokeshire.
Completing the line up is Elliott Lidstone, owner of BOX-E in Bristol. Elliott began his career at Chewton Glen working his way through the ranks before moving to L’Ortolan. He then went on to head up the Empress gaining 2 AA Rosettes and a Michelin Bib Gourmand. In 2016 he opened BOX-E, a shipping container based restaurant on the Bristol docks.