A word from our Head Chef

Alex Parker is a prime example of how patience, tenacity, passion and a bit of persistence can make dreams come true. Just before graduating from Catering College at 18, he set his sights on 3 Michelin Star restaurant, Gordon Ramsey. At the time it was under the careful thumb of award winning Chef Patron, Clare Smyth, and Alex literally walked in to his first job there.

“I saved up my money to dine at the restaurant, whilst still at college, and after the meal I went into the kitchen and asked if I could work there. Two weeks later, after a trial shift, I was moving from my family home in Hertfordshire to Chelsea!”

With a few years of experience under his belt, and new friends in the industry made, Alex moved on to the newly opened City Social – Jason Atherton’s newest venture at the time. With Paul Walsh leading the kitchen, the team were awarded their first Michelin Star just four months after opening. Alex spent four years at City Social before flying the nest and heading across London to Mayfair.

It was at Hibiscus Restaurant that Alex became the protégée of world renowned Michelin Star chef, Claude Bosi. Together they moved to the famous Michelin House, in South Kensington.

“That was where we opened ‘Claude Bosi at Bibendum’, and that is where we won 2 Michelin Stars in the first year of opening. I stayed there for 6 amazing years!”

Now, 12 years since moving to London, Alex has returned to Hertfordshire to make his mark and give back to the area that first inspired him to start cooking.