Former Ethicurean chef Mark McCabe to head up Henrock by Simon Rogan

McCabe is best known for his four year stint as chef owner of The Ethicurean, the sustainably-minded Bristol restaurant that closed its doors last year shortly after receiving a Michelin Green star. ​​

Prior to The Ethicurean, the Scotland-born chef was part of the team at Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall’s River Cottage in Dorset, after training in kitchens in Paris as well as Lancashire.

McCabe takes over from chef Cillian Hennessy, who is to become a development chef for Simon Rogan’s Aulis restaurant in Cartmel, which is attached to his three-Michelin-starred flagship L’Enclume. ​​

Rogan launched Henrock in 2019 within Linthwaite House, a contemporary country house hotel which overlooks Lake Windermere.

The menu takes inspiration from Rogan’s travels worldwide, particularly to his restaurants in Hong Kong, Malta and Thailand, but aims to use locally sourced ingredients.

As an extension of this ethos, McCabe will work with Our Farm manager John Rowland and Our Farm head chef Liam Fitzpatrick, to grow and preserve a selection of tropical plants and exotic species.

“As a chef I have always been compelled and inspired by nature, seasonality and sustainability and so the Simon Rogan way of sourcing and cooking aligns so closely with my own personal ethos, it feels like the perfect continuation of the work I have dedicated my career to so far,” McCabe says. 

“Naturally, I am most looking forward to working with the ingredients sourced directly from Simon’s farm - it’s a true luxury to have access to produce of this quality and diversity, not to mention being located in one of the most beautiful areas of the country. I can’t wait to be a part of the Henrock brigade.”

Rogan added: “Mark is not only a highly-skilled chef but following his experience in kitchens which also harness such a strong connection to where its food is grown, means he has developed a true understanding of growing and an appreciation for nature and sustainability that is rare to find.”

“We’re excited to welcome Mark to the Henrock kitchen and wider Simon Rogan team, but also to be working alongside Gerald Van der Walt and the Leeu F&B team to build on the wider offering that guests can enjoy at Linthwaite House. Although he’ll be missed in the Henrock kitchen, we also look forward to seeing Cillian Hennessy settle into his new role as Development Chef of Aulis Cartmel.”