Nightmares chef quits Connaught

Claire Porter, the Lake District chef who was offered a job by Gordon Ramsay at Angela Hartnett's Menu restaurant in London's Connaught hotel, has left just weeks after joining.

The 24-year-old, from Lake District restaurant the Glass House, in Ambleside, impressed Ramsay when she worked alongside him during the filming of his television series Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares earlier this year.

Porter only began cheffing part-time after working front of house. She had never been to catering college and had considered quitting the kitchen to run a bookshop.

But Ramsay persuaded her to pursue a career as a chef instead. Porter took his advice and moved to the capital to work alongside Hartnett at the beginning of October.

She worked on the garnish section during her short stint in the kitchen. Asked why Porter had left, Hartnett said: "She went due to personal problems."

She added: "It had nothing to do with us."

Source: Caterer & Hotelkeeper magazine, 18 November 2004