Issue 18 Spring 2019 Quarterly The eyes & ears of the hospitality industry 100 Most Influential Women in Hospitality Bookshelf confidential • Abstinence • Chef obsessions Industry £4 / Non-industry £7 1OO most influential women in hospitality In association with Building on the success of last year’s list, and Lisa Markwell were Paula Fitzherbert, CODE is proud once again to publish its group director of communications at list of women who genuinely affect change in Maybourne Hotels, the social-media the hospitality industry. Influence takes many maestro Clerkenwell Boy and authoritative forms – from a small but dynamic operation restaurant-watcher Felicity Spector. to a board-level executive who is changing In addition, we are delighted that the recruitment and retention for women. It’s restaurant-bookings platform Quandoo are not just the very visible women who sponsors of this year’s list. An evolved and we celebrate here, although it’s always equal industry means a better business for thrilling to see famous female faces on TV everyone as Pierpaolo Zollo, VP Business and receiving awards. The farmers, the Development knows. “At Quandoo, our accountants, the waiting staff and the PRs passion is the restaurant industry and the deserve acclaim too. people who make it work, so we are delighted The panel making the final decision on to be supporting such a diverse list of this year’s list was made up of people who pioneers from within it. There’s never been a understand the industry both from working more important time to shine a light on the in it and experiencing it as diners, drinkers women paving the way and making waves in and guests. Joining CODE’s Adam Hyman the world of hospitality.” Issue 18 | Spring 2019 codehospitality.co.uk -10- Chantelle Nicholson Chef patron, Tredwells and group operations director, Marcus Wareing Restaurants Emily Scott Director and chef, St Tudy Inn Helen Goh Head pastry chef, Ottolenghi Hélène Darroze Chefs Chef proprietor, Helene Darroze at The Connaught Jane Alty Head chef and co-owner, The Begging Bowl Lisa Goodwin-Allen Executive chef, Northcote Mandy Yin Chef and owner, Sambal Shiok Laksa Bar Monica Galetti Chef and TV presenter, co-owner of Mere Nicole Pisani Executive chef and co-founder, Chefs in Schools Asma Khan Chef patron, Darjeeling Express (see p58) Nieves Barragán-Mohacho Fans of the wildly popular Netflix show Chef ’s Table will Chef and co-founder, Sabor (see p22) be well aware that Khan made headlines at the end of last year when they announced that she is the first ever British chef to be featured on the show. Khan talks about the Pam Brunton experience in positive terms, saying that she was given the Head chef and co-owner, Inver chance to talk about her story with complete freedom, and address more than just food, she discusses religion, race and immigration, too. Darjeeling Express continues to be Ravinder Bhogal Chef patron, Jikoni one of London’s most-loved destinations for home-style Indian cooking, served up by an all-female, entirely self-taught kitchen of chefs. new entry Kady Yon Executive chef and operations manager, Soho House & Co Soho House operates at breakneck speed under the leadership of Nick Jones and his right- hand man Martin Kuczmarski. With loyal but demanding members’, the pioneering private members’ club has to constantly evolve its food offering and maintain standards across the Houses. This is Kady Yon’s role, as executive chef and operations manager. Hong Kong-born, Yon grew up in Chicago where she worked at the legendary Charlie Trotter’s, as well as Jean- Georges Vongerichten’s restaurant. In 2014, Yon helped to launch Soho House Chicago before coming to the UK, where she has held her Issue 18 | Spring 2019 codehospitality.co.uk current role at Soho House since 2017. -11- Romy Gill MBE Chef patron, Romy’s Kitchen Ruth Rogers MBE Chef owner, The River Café Sally Clarke MBE Chef owner, Clarke’s Angela Hartnett Chef proprietor, Murano and Cafe Murano Sarit Packer Co-owner and chef, Honey & Co Selin Kiazim Chef patron, Oklava Shuko Oda Head chef, Koya Mary-Ellen McTague Chef restaurateur, The Creameries Clare Smyth MBE Chef owner, CORE by Clare Smyth Clare Smyth needs little introduction, having become the first female British chef to hold and retain three Michelin stars. Smyth had a particularly successful year in 2018, with Core being named New Restaurant of the Year by the Craft Guild of Chefs and the 4th Best Restaurant in the UK at the National Restaurant Awards, as well as catering the reception for Meghan and Harry’s Royal Wedding. Fiercely devoted to her job, having admitted to working 80-hour weeks, Smyth continues to trailblaze as one of the world’s most influential chefs. Natasha new entry Norton-Smith Pastry chef and co-owner, The Fordwich Arms Anyone who has visited the stratospherically successful Fordwich Arms in Kent will know about Natasha Norton-Smith – her incredibly pastry work is central to its rave reviews and the awarding of a Michelin star within a few months of opening. She, together with husband Daniel Smith and business partner Guy Palmer-Brown (both ex- Clove Club), left London to follow their dream of refurbishing the pub – in her case bringing the expertise of years working with Rocket and One Leicester Street. It is a huge tribute to Norton- Smith that her knowledge of the Kent scene and warm hospitality means The Fordwich Arms is as popular with the local residents as it is with Issue 18 | Spring 2019 codehospitality.co.uk daytripping food cognoscenti. -12- Laura Harper-Hinton new entry Creative director and co-founder, Patricia Caravan Restaurants Michelson Irha Atherton Founder, La Fromagerie Co-director, The Social Company Michelson shows that if you stick to one thing and one strong brand image, and do it well, it can lead to huge success. La Fromagerie opened in Highbury Sandia Chang Park in 1992; ten years later a second shop opened in Co-owner and sommelier, Bubbledogs and Marylebone, and then in 2017 La Fromagerie opened Kitchen Table in Lambs Conduit Street. Alongside running her three award-winning shops (that aren’t really just shops at all, but cafes, grocers and supper club venues too) and Sarah Gill a successful wholesale business, Michelson has also Restaurateur and co-owner, written two books: The Cheese Room and Cheese. The Dairy and Sorella Michelson’s faith in her philosophy and love for food make her a brilliant role-model. Thomasina Miers Chef, author and co-founder, Wahaca new entry Rebecca Oliver Co-founder, The Dusty Knuckle Margot Henderson & Melanie Arnold Chefs and co-owners, Rochelle Canteen Erchen Chang new entry & Wai Ting Co-founders, BAO Gizzi & Rosemary Co-founders of F!LTH LauraHelen Harper-HintonBowey ChiefCreative development director and officer, co-founder, rhubarb Caravan Restaurants Prue Freeman IrhaFounder, Atherton Daisy Green Co-director, The Social Company Monika Linton SandiaFounder, Brindisa Chang Co-owner and sommelier, Bubbledogs and Kitchen Table Nisha Katona Founder, Mowgli Sarah Gill Restaurateur and co-owner,new entry TheZan Dairy Kaufman and Sorella Founder, Bleecker Burger Thomasinanew Miers entry Chef,Ceri author Gott and co-founder, WahacaHR Director, (see Hawksmoor p26) Restaurants new entry RebeccaCornelia OliverStaeubli PartnerCo-founder, and groupThe Dusty general Knuckle manager, Ottolenghi Margot Henderson &Skye Melanie Gyngell Arnold Creative director and co-founder, Chefs and co-owners, Rochelle Canteen Issue 18 | Spring 2019 codehospitality.co.uk Caravan Restaurants Erchen Chang new entry &Sam Wai Clark Ting Chef proprietor, Moro and Morito Co-founders, BAO new entry Restaurateurs and operators Restaurateurs HelenSaiphin Bowey Moore ChiefChef anddevelopment co-founder, officer, Rosa’s rhubarb Thai, Lao Café and Saiphin’s Kitchen -13- Sunaina Sethi Operations director and wine buyer, JKS Restaurants The powerhouse trio of Sunaina Sethi and her brothers continue to dominate the London restaurant scene. With her focus both on the wellbeing of the extensive staff and the wine world in which she is a high-flying expert, Sethi is an important role model for those inside and beyond the JKS empire. She marked ten years of the JKS business last year – a huge success in itself - plus the launch of Brigadiers, Sabor and Berenjak. Oh, and she and husband Karan Gokani welcomed a son too. Sethi continues to introduce unusual and high creative wines to the stable of restaurants – which this year will be joined by a new BAO, at London Bridge. Gizzi Erskine & Rosemary Ferguson Co-founders, F!LTH The two women behind the Filth brand were already very influential in their fields – Erskine has a highly successful career as a food writer, author, chef and TV personality, while Ferguson is in huge demand as a nutritionist, which is already her second career after years as a fashion personality. Filth, the vegan fast- food brand they invented and ran as a pop-up at the Tate gallery last year, has exploded in terms of recognition and success. It is currently operating out of the Dirty Burger site in Shoreditch, garnering queues and huge numbers of social media posts. But far more important than that is the genuine research- and-development skill the duo have brought to the burgers – showing the way to a healthier Issue 18 | Spring 2019 codehospitality.co.uk but still fun way to eat. -14- Claire Warner new entry Head of new brands, Seedlip Drinks Warner joined Seedlip last year as head of new brands and has already got a major new launch underway. Æcorn Aperitifs, three non-alcoholic aperitifs are based on 17th century English herbal remedies and – given the huge success and brand dominance of Seedlip – are predicted to be big news.