D&D's Almeida names new head chef
D&D London's Islington restaurant Almeida has named former Tom Aikens chef Tommy Boland as its head chef.
The announcement comes 12 months after Martin Nisbet was appointed to the role. He has since left the business and set up Martin's Supper Club, which offers consultancy, private dinner party and supper club services in and around Hertfordshire.
Boland's most recent role with Aikens, follows stints at the two-Michelin-starred Mayfair restaurant the Square, and Le Cinq in Paris. His menu at Almeida is described as ingredient-led simple British food with French influences.
Sample dishes include salad of grilled mackerel, beetroot, sorrel, smoked eel (starter); tarte fine of onion with morels, new season onions and wild garlic, and loin and cheek of pork, with caramelised endive, turnips and roasting juices (mains).
Desserts include chocolate and jaffa pave, orange sorbet, muscavado crumble and lemon posset with raspberry and doughnuts.
Nisbet told Caterer that his last service was on New Year's Eve, and added: "There were many reasons for leaving but the main one was to spend a little bit more time at home as I have a young family and have never taken a real break in the past 20 years.
"The supper club was set up to have a bit of fun and keep me active while being at home more but was never going to be a full time business."
Nisbet said he plans to return to full time employment and is currently looking at a number of opportunities.