David and Karen Richards, owners of top luxury British retreat The Idle Rocks, have appointed Guy Owen as Head Chef, effective 7th July 2015.
Guy will introduce a menu championing Cornish food, working with local fishermen, greengrocers and sourcing the best meat from the West Country. By taking advantage of the local waters, Guy will showcase not only the fish and shellfish available close by but also sea vegetables abundant on the coastline such as seaweed, samphire and sea pea.
David Richards comments: “Guy will lead the culinary team at The Idle Rocks Restaurant in creating a menu based on fresh, local and seasonal ingredients.”
The Hampshire born chef developed his culinary expertise with some of the London’s leading chefs, including Gordon Ramsay at his Michelin starred restaurant at Claridge’s, Jerome Tauvron at L’Etranger and James Bennington and Bruce Poole at Michelin starred La Trompette.
Guy moved to South East Cornwall at the age of eight and throughout his school years began helping in the kitchens of local restaurants after lessons and at weekends. More recently, having returned to the West Country in 2009, Guy worked at leading hotels Gidleigh Park, under Michael Caines, and the Driftwood hotel, where he became sous chef under Chris Eden.
Cornish produce fuelled passion for food
Guy Owen comments: “It was Cornish produce that fuelled my passion for food. The new menu at The Idle Rocks Restaurant will reflect the hotel’s ethos of re-engaging with the simple pleasures in life and will use only the best ingredients with a mix of classical and modern cooking methods.”
About The Idle Rocks, St. Mawes
The Idle Rocks first opened in 1913 and has since seen many incarnations. It became a popular luxury hotel in the pre-WW2 years, continuing to flourish after the war, with St. Mawes being seen as England’s answer to St. Tropez. It was purchased by David and Karen Richards in 2010, and closed in October 2012 for renovation, re-opening in July 2013. David Richards, previously Chairman of Aston Martin, is a leading entrepreneur in the motor racing world and his wife Karen has designed the hotel’s interiors.
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