As we reported a couple of weeks ago, Steve Smith has departed the Devonshire Arms’ Burlington Restaurant at Bolton Abbey for Bohemia on Jersey and the search has been on for his replacement. News is they’ve appointed Adam Smith, an aspiring young chef from the Ritz.
Only 25 years old, Smith has had an astonishing trajectory. Eight years ago he was washing pots in a Birmingham pub; last year he won a Roux Scholarship and was named Observer Young Chef of the Year followed by a three month stage at the three star Le Meurice in Paris.
Announcing the appointment of Smith to the Burlington Restaurant, General Manager Andrew Mackay said: ‘This is a great opportunity both for us and for Adam. Rather than bring in someone who has already made his mark with Michelin stars who would be doing just more of the same, we wanted to take the chance to support a rising star where he can make our restaurant his own and give it his personality.’
It’s good they’re supporting ‘a rising star’, but I can’t help thinking the management will still have their eyes on a Michelin. We look forward to see what this Smith can do. He arrives in July.