Stuart Deeley partners with Laghi's as executive chef

The MasterChef: The Professionals 2019 champion is working with the neighbourhood restaurant in Edgbaston alongside his chef director role at Smoke at Hampton Manor.

Stuart Deeley has announced his appointment as executive chef of Laghi's in Edgbaston, Birmingham.

The chef will be unveiling a new menu at the neighbourhood Italian restaurant owned by Luca Laghi on 12 March.

Deeley has worked with newly appointed head chef Patrick Hukins – previously sous chef at Smoke – to create a new small plates menu showcasing seasonal ingredients, including dishes such as barbecued Isle of Man queenie scallops in an Espelette sauce with smoked roe.

Deeley will remain full-time in the kitchen at Smoke, leaving Hukins to oversee the new menu at Laghi's on a day-to-day basis.

On Instagram, the chef said his small plates menu will give him a "chance to bring my cooking back to the city centre".

"I've known and admired Luca and what he's done with Laghis for a while and our paths have finally crossed," said Deeley. "It's an exciting new venture and I'm looking forward to working together."

Charlotte Carter, general manager at Laghi's, added: "Working alongside Stu and Paddy has already brought a wave of new life into the kitchen and restaurant."

Laghi's will also launch a new wine list sourced from Birmingham-based Wine Freedom, offering guests wines from smaller production vineyards, showcasing natural, organic and bio-dynamic wines.

Cocktails, meanwhile, will be created in partnership with Brimingham bar Passing Fancies