The Samling announces vegetable guru Ken Holland as its new grower
The Samling hotel in the Lake District has announced vegetable guru Ken Holland as the Michelin-stared restaurant's new grower.
Holland will work alongside head chef Ian Swainson and his development team to deliver a kitchen garden at the hotel that creates a range of specific and pioneering produce for the team.
Holland has become well-known for using some of the most pioneering vegetable growing techniques in the world. His particular speciality is heritage strains of vegetables, some of which date back to the 1700s. These strains often look different, are vibrantly coloured and have intense flavours. His reputation has led to him supplying some of the UK's top chefs including Simon Rogan, Claude Bosi, Tom Aikens and Kenny Atkinson.
Alasdair Elwick, general manager at the Samling, said: "We are delighted to have Ken on board with us here at the hotel. We are constantly evolving our cuisine and want to continue to increase the quality here at the hotel. Ken will be a vital part of this."
"To have someone of Ken's calibre developing and maintaining our kitchen garden is incredible," Swainson added.
The Samling is the current holder of the Culinary Excellence Best Boutique dining hotel in the world and was awarded a Michelin star and 3 AA Rosettes in September 2013.