Shauna and Mark Froydenlund appointed joint chef patrons of Marcus

Two-Michelin-starred chef Marcus Wareing has appointed husband and wife team Mark and Shauna Froydenlund as joint chef patrons at his flagship restaurant at the Berkeley hotel in Knightsbridge.

 

Wareing has also made the Froydenlunds partners in the business.

 

The presenter of BBC2's MasterChef: The Professionals said the appointment of two chef-patrons and the offer of a partnership in his iconic restaurant is the result of the pair's "combined passion, hard work and a resolute determination to deliver nothing but the best".

 

The Froydenlunds have both worked for Marcus Wareing Restaurants for more than 10 years and together they have been instrumental in its growth and ongoing success.

 

Wareing said: "Mark and Shauna have worked incredibly hard to get here, they are two of London's most talented chefs and they are the perfect partners for me, the restaurant and the group. It fills me with immense pleasure to provide business opportunities for the most talented people in my company, to help build their future and help them achieve their goals.

 

"As we continue to grow and evolve the business and restaurants will always stay fresh and vibrant, with Mark and Shauna now partners at Marcus, together we will take the restaurant forward. This is a hugely exciting time for the restaurant and the team."

 

Having both started with Wareing at what was then Pétrus, they have been part of the team which saw the restaurant at the Berkeley go through two large-scale changes - the first from Pétrus to Marcus Wareing at the Berkeley in 2008, and then the 2014 refurbishment and "deformalisation" of fine dining when the restaurant was relaunched and renamed Marcus.

 

The news follows Wareing's decision to make operations director Chantelle Nicholson chef-patron of Tredwells last June. Nicholson, who won the Manager of the Year Catey in July, was also named Woman of the Year at the 2016 Shine Awards in October.

 

As joint chef patrons, Mark and Shauna Froydenlund will carry on working closely with Wareing to "evolve and enhance" one of the most celebrated dining rooms in London. While Mark's primary focus will be on menu development and further heightening the customer experience, Shauna will concentrate on the team at Marcus. Shauna will provide further opportunities for growth and development among the team while also recruiting more individuals to support the ongoing advancement of the restaurant.

 

Mark, who won the opportunity to cook the main course at the Great British Menu banquet last year, and Shauna will lead the pass while also guiding and leading the team. The style of cooking at Marcus will remain the same with Mark and Shauna continuing to source ingredients from across the UK to showcase native, seasonal produce.

 

Mark said: "Shauna and I are really excited to start this next chapter. Working with Marcus over the past 10 years has been an amazing experience and now it's time for us to use everything we've learnt to continue what Marcus started here at the Berkeley."

 

Shauna added: "We have both grown up in this kitchen at Marcus so to have the opportunity to enter into a partnership is incredible. We can't wait for this new challenge, to be part of one of the most exciting restaurants in the world, to help grow the business and take the offering to new heights is simply amazing".

 

Originally from Leigh-on-sea, Essex, Mark trained at Westminster Kingsway College where a lecturer arranged for him to meet Wareing. Mark was subsequently offered his first professional chefs job at what was then Pétrus in 2007, starting as a commis chef. The following year, he was part of the team that saw the restaurant change ownership and name, from Petrus to Marcus Wareing at the Berkeley. Within three years Mark had worked his way up to sous chef, and by 2012, at just 27, Mark had become head chef. In 2013 he also won an Acorn Award.

 

Last year, Mark took part in Great British Menu and his main course, celebration of rose veal, scored perfect 10s from the judges. It won him the place to cook at the banquet at Westminster Palace in October.

 

Shauna hails from Derry in Northern Ireland and comes from a family of restaurateurs. She moved to England in 2004 as a student at Sheffield Hallam University. In 2006, with the help of one of her lecturers, she was introduced to Gordon Ramsay Holdings, and the company later offered her a student placement at what was then Pétrus. It was here that she first met Wareing. After finishing her placement at Pétrus, Shauna went back to university to finish her degree.

 

After gaining a first-class honours degree in hospitality and culinary arts, in 2008 Shauna was offered a role at the newly launched Marcus Wareing at the Berkeley. She started as a demi chef de partie on pastry but quickly moved up to head pastry chef. She worked her way around the kitchen before moving to sister business the Gilbert Scott to aid Nicholson with its launch in 2011.

 

In 2012 Shauna moved back to Marcus Wareing at the Berkeley as senior sous chef to head chef Mark. In 2015, she took a temporary acting head chef position at the newly launched Tredwells. That same year, she worked alongside Wareing and Nicholson consulting on The Weinstein Company's production of the film Burnt starring Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller and Uma Thurman.

 

With the blessing of Wareing, in 2016 Shauna took on a one-year teaching role allowing her to understand food in a whole new way - teacher to student, chef to guest.

 

Earlier this year, she moved back to Marcus Wareing Restaurants, alongside her now husband Mark.
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