EN 
I’m the kind of chef who likes to take time out from the kitchen to meet diners, so I look forward to the chance of welcoming you to The Grill by Tom Booton soon.
In conversation with
Meet Tom Booton, chef for The Grill by Tom Booton
October 18, 2019
We’re delighted to welcome Tom as our new chef for The Grill by Tom Booton. At 26 years old he’s the youngest chef in the restaurant’s history and is all set to shake things up in his own inimitable way.
The story so far
My career began aged just 15 at a local Essex restaurant, where I rose through the ranks and won ‘Chef of the Future’ at the Essex Food & Drinks Awards. In 2014, I moved to London and worked as a commis chef and sous chef before, becoming a head chef. I’ve also worked in restaurants in New York, Copenhagen and Iceland. It’s funny when people say how young I am as I’ve been cooking professionally for nearly 12 years.
I’m now on a mission to offer a modern-day grill experience in a style that nowhere else offers.
Following in famous footsteps
It’s a real honour and a privilege to be the latest chef at The Grill. I certainly get a sense of the amazing heritage but at the same time I’m here to make a difference and start an exciting new chapter for the restaurant. I’m all about fine dining without the formality, so when the restaurant officially relaunches in November I want people to notice a change. The past ten years have seen such a huge improvement in the UK dining scene and I’m thrilled to be a part of it.
What’s on the menu
My style of cooking is British, vibrant and fresh. I’m busy working on new menus and researching the history of British cooking. I’ve been experimenting with giving classic favourites a contemporary twist, such as my new lobster thermidor tart. I won’t be offering the old classics, some of which have been on the menu since the restaurant opened in 1931. I think it’s time to give diners a taste of something new that I trust will surprise and delight them.
Produce led
As a British grill restaurant chef, my cooking is a showcase for the finest British ingredients. I chat daily with my fisherman in Cornwall to hear about the latest catch and this inspires new recipes and daily specials. My cattle farmer in the Lake District is another great contact I know I can rely on, and as I’m from Essex I source a lot of vegetables from this great county at places I know well.
New beginnings
There are other changes happening aside from the menu. I will be using the bar counter for pre-dinner drinks with creative cocktails. I’m also creating a new pudding bar, somewhere to sit after your main course and experience a different atmosphere. The idea is that this will become an interactive experience in its own right, especially as I’ve just bought an ice cream machine and will be serving some intriguing flavours. More banquette style seating will add a more intimate feel to the restaurant and my influence over the choice of music will inspire a new vibe.
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