Two of the county’s culinary rising stars hope to take their cooking creations to another level with the opportunity to work in one of the most famous pubs in the UK.
Greedy Gordons chefs Ben Drury and Harvey Tapp will be aiming to raise the bar following their work placements in the world-famous kitchen at Tom Kerridge’s award- winning pub, The Hand and Flowers this month.
The Greedy Gordons culinary colleagues will each spend a week at The Hand and Flowers in Marlow, famed for being the only pub in the UK with two Michelin stars, in a cooking career highlight like no other.
Richard Gordon, Director of Greedy Gordons, approached the esteemed establishment to secure the opportunity for his two chefs and hopes it will lead to other opportunities for his talented team.
The Hand and Flowers has grown in culinary acclaim since Tom Kerridge and his wife Beth bought the pub, which is renowned for its expertly refined British classics and laid-back feel with people from across the UK travelling to enjoy the unique dining experience it offers.
With two Michelin stars, four AA rosettes and a blue-ribbon culinary reputation, the interim work experience at the phenomenally popular pub is a culinary coup for the Greedy Gordons chefs.
Ben, the head chef from The Red Lion at Cranford, and Harvey, commis chef at The Snooty Fox in Lowick, hope to make their mark this month. Richard said:
“It is such a great opportunity for these two chefs to go and gain some exceptional experience in what is classed as the best of the best in the industry.
“We are supporting them by providing their accommodation, travel expenses and salary as they will be there for the week, working Monday to Friday. Sonya and I will hopefully get to visit them as well. It is such a great opportunity for these two chefs to go and gain experience in what is classed as the very best and only two- star Michelin pub in the world. The experience and the environment they are going to be working in is at the top of the game. The opportunity is incredible for them and for Greedy Gordons. They will hopefully come back with lots of new upbeat, fresh ideas and a wealth of experience.”
Richard reached out to the team at The Hand and Flowers to ask about any opportunities for budding, upcoming chefs and Tom’s team agreed on the January placement dates. Richard added:
“From a business standpoint we will pay their full weeks salary, their accommodation and travel costs because it is a really amazing opportunity for them. Ben is our longest established chef, who has been with us for over five years, and is very much part of the Greedy Gordons family and what he brings to the table is second to none. Harvey has been with us for over two years, joining us when he was 16, and he has turned into a really solid member of the team and brings a lot of dedication to the job.
“Hopefully throughout the year there will be additional opportunities for other members of the team to go to The Hand and Flowers for a similar experience. It is a big deal for them to go there and represent Greedy Gordons and to work alongside some of the best chefs in the country. We picked the establishment because they are a pub and that’s what we do, exceptional pub food.
“The opportunity for them to go there and hopefully come back with lots of inspiration, great ideas and reflect that in the service at The Red Lion and The Snooty Fox will be immense. It is great that Tom’s establishment is opening the doors of opportunity for upcoming chefs in the industry, they have been so accommodating.
“I am really excited for them both to see what they can do, what they can learn and what they can bring back from their experience in a world class kitchen – this is a world first for Greedy Gordons!”
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