Isabel Mayfair appoints Catarina Almeida as head chef

Former Petersham Nurseries head chef Catarina Almeida has been appointed head chef at London’s Isabel Mayfair.

Almeida studied food production in Portugal before moving to London to work as a chef. After a few years at Brown’s in London’s Mayfair, a Rocco Forte hotel, she joined Petersham Nurseries in 2018, where she was based for seven years, working on the development of Petersham Nurseries Covent Garden and Trogolo, which launched in November last year.

From 22 June, Almeida will showcase a new menu at Isabel Mayfair, consisting of summery dishes such as market whole fish served with lemon and sauce vierge, burrata with roasted figs and aged balsamic reduction; and breaded lamb cutlets with anchovy mayonnaise and Marcona almonds.

Almeida said: “I want each dish to tell a story, whether that’s through the ingredients, the place that inspired it, or the memories and traditions it’s connected to. Mediterranean food is about more than recipes; it’s about bringing people together around the table and creating moments that are meant to be shared.”

Scottie Bhattarai, chief executive of Isabel Mayfair’s owner, BNF Hospitality, added: “Catarina brings a genuine understanding of ingredient-led cooking, together with the warmth, generosity and respect for produce that sit at the heart of Isabel. Her experience at Petersham Nurseries, combined with her own Portuguese heritage, makes her a natural fit for the restaurant as we continue to evolve and write the next chapter of Isabel Mayfair.”

Isabel Mayfair opened in 2017 and launched its first international outpost, Isabel Abu Dhabi, in April 2026.