John Christie is new head chef at Corner Room restaurant
The Corner Room, one of two restaurants in east London's Town Hall hotel, has appointed John Christie as new head chef.
Christie previously spent three years at the two Michelin-starred Restaurant Andrew Fairlie at Gleneagles hotel and resort, a period at Claude Bosi's Hibiscus in London, and a stage at El Celler de Can Roca in Girona, Spain. He started his career at Kinnaird House hotel, Perthshire.
The chef will now offer a seasonal menu based on locally-sourced British produce, focusing on simple flavours and cooking techniques. There will also now be a six-course tasting menu with small-sized a la carte dishes.
Typical plates will include roe deer with baby gem kimchi; pear beurre noisette and dandelion; and John Dory fish with kohlrabi, Cornish crab and lardo. A typical dessert might be the greengage, green tea and cobnut.
Prices will range from £4 to £16 for the a la carte dishes, while the set lunch menus start at £19 for two courses and £23 for three.
The Edwardian-era Town Hall building, in the Bethnal Green area, re-opened its doors in April 2010 following an extensive renovation. It also houses the Typing Room restaurant (formerly Viajante under Nuno Mendes), whose head chef is Lee Westcott.