Allan Pickett to guest at Simon Hulstone's Elephant

Chef Allan Pickett is to take over the kitchen at his friend Simon Hulstone's Michelin-starred restaurant the Elephant, in Torquay, Devon.

Pickett, who recently opened his own site named Piquet, will be the first chef to take part in a takeover of the kitchen, which will form part of the inaugural Guest Chef Series beginning on 3 March.

He has created a four-course menu, priced at £60 per person, inspired by dishes he has created for Piquet, including his love of local, seasonal sourcing and foraged ingredients. Pickett's style has also been influenced by his 20-year career, which has included roles at Michelin-starred establishments including Orrery, L'Escargot and Chez Nico.

His dishes will include a galette of Old Spot pig's head, wild sea bass with cauliflower puree, grilled lamb cutlet with pressed shoulder and sweetbreads, and apple sorbet with poached blackberries and custard mousse.

The Guest Chef Series will see nine chef friends of Hulstone take over the kitchen, creating specially-created menus with local ingredients.

Pickett opened his own restaurant, Piquet, in London's Fitzrovia, with Canadian restaurateur and founder of steakhouse group Bodean's, André Blais, in September last year.

Hulstone, chef-proprietor of the Elephant, said: "I've known Allan since we were aspirational teenagers and it's great to see him doing so well in his own restaurant. He's a fantastic chef and I'm sure his menu will be an absolute treat for our diners."

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