James Greatorex to take over as head chef at L’Ortolan

Tom Clarke is stepping down as head chef at Michelin-starred L’Ortolan, with junior sous chef James Greatorex stepping into his shoes this month.

Clarke took over from former head chef Alan Murchison at the Reading restaurant in 2014 and has headed up the kitchen for six years, having also spent three years in the role of sous chef prior to that. However, due to family commitments, he is moving to Essex.

Greatorex joined the restaurant in 2018, having previously spent two years at Heston Blumenthal’s three-Michelin-starred the Fat Duck in Bray, Berkshire, as a chef de partie.

Greatorex said: "It is a real honour for me to be offered the head chef position at L’Ortolan, a place with such rich culinary history, developed through a history of many talented chefs. With a strong team behind me, I hope to consolidate L’Ortolan’s rightful place within England’s fine dining scene."

Clarke added: “I would like to thank owner Peter Newman and everyone at L’Ortolan over the last nine years I have worked on and off for. It has been a great privilege to work at L’Ortolan and in a restaurant with such history. I would like to wish all the very best for the bright future L’Ortolan will have.”

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