Andrew Turner to leave Hotel Café Royal

13 August 2015 by
Andrew Turner to leave Hotel Café Royal

Andrew Turner is to leave London's Hotel Café Royal after three years in the role of executive chef.

Speaking to The Caterer, Turner, who joined the Regent Street property from Wiltons in St James, said: "It's been a culinary journey and one of the best times of my career. My kitchen team and I have created products and ideas that some just dream about - our own chocolate from the bean to the bar, unique London afternoon Royal tea, our own Himalayan smoked salmon and pink salt-aged caviar, streaky lamb bacon, unique cheeses and butters. We also installed the first training kitchen iPads with Apple, and our own chickens feed on sage.

"Cooking isn't just about policies and procedures; firstly it's about giving, passion and feeling, the rest is just history."

Turner, who had initially taken some flak from the critics when the hotel opened following its £200m refurbishment, told The Caterer last autumn. "It's been a journey, but it's not the first opening I've done. Every opening is a challenge, as every problem is a new one, but as you deal with the old problems, they're no longer problems and you move forward.

"As a business, sometimes you need to open whether you're fully ready or not. We were delayed significantly by a flood, but had already started to recruit and needed to go into production. We had to embrace the experience and learn by our mistakes - as they were perceived."

Most recently, Turner has been hosting a series of collaborations, dubbed The Domino Effect (held in the hotel's dining room) with internationally-based chefs such as Paco Roncero, executive chef and director of the Casino De Madrid and its two-Michelin-starred restaurant La Terraza Del Casino, Ferran AdriÁ protégé Aurelio Morales of Ramses restaurant in Madrid, and New York chefs Patti Jackson and Ryan Tate.

In a statement to The Caterer, the Café Royal commented: "Andrew Turner will be leaving Hotel Café Royal in August 2015 to pursue other interests and projects.

"During his time at Hotel Café Royal, Turner, who joined as executive chef in May 2012 as part of the senior pre-opening management team, has been responsible for creating culinary concepts and menus throughout the venue, as well as being involved in exclusive partnerships such as The Domino Effect."

Turner will be taking up a new role in London in the autumn, but hasn't yet revealed where it will be.

Hotel Café Royal launches season of guest chef collaborations >>

Hotel Café Royal rewriting history >>

Andrew Turner leaves Wiltons for the Café Royal >>


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