Heston Blumenthal to open London restaurant
Heston Blumenthal is to open his first restaurant in London at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel it has been confirmed.
Following months of speculation over whether the Fat Duck chef would be opening a restaurant at the Hyde Park venue, it was confirmed by the hotel today that he will open a 140-cover restaurant there in autumn 2010.
In a statement Blumenthal said: “I have great respect for the Mandarin Oriental brand and working in partnership with the hotel group is a natural step and one which offers an exciting opportunity.”
The as yet un-named restaurant will be run by Ashley Palmer Watts who has been the Fat Duck`s group executive chef for the last nine years. The food is expected to be in Blumenthal`s signature `culinary alchemy` style with influences from his `ongoing research and discovery of historic British gastronomy`.
Designer Adam Tihany has been appointed to create the restaurant interior which will reflect the historical theme of the food by using traditional materials such as wood, leather and iron.
David Nicholls, corporate director of food & beverage at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group said: “We are delighted to partner with The Fat Duck Group on this very exciting new venture. A longtime friend of Heston’s, I have always shared his enthusiasm for English recipes and have enjoyed working with him to help develop talented British chefs through the Roux Scholarship programme."
