Elite Chef Recruitment

Stage – La Bécasse Chef – Will Holland 1 Michelin Star 3 AA Rosette La Bécasse is open from Tuesday dinner through to Sunday lunch serving Menu de Jour, Al a Carte, Gourmand Menu, Taste of La Bécasse and at Lunch, a Surprise Menu. www.labecasse.co.uk When you walk through the town of Ludlow, with it's beautiful 17th century buildings you come across a number of organic food suppliers, butters and local cheese makers. You instantly get the feeling that this is a favourite destination for the ‘foodies’. As if to confirm that feeling, La Bécasse - the stunning Michelin starred restaurant which is headed up by Acorn Award winner Will Holland is at the heart of this ‘foodie’ community. When I arrived, Will gave me a full tour of the restaurant. A traditional feel with well placed modern touches, this restaurant is a place that invites a truly memorable eating experience. Will has recently been named as one of the top ten chefs to watch this decade by the Good Food Guide. Having now seen his work and experienced his restaurant, coupled with his extensive plans for the future I can instantly see why he is a chef to look out for. I arrived in the kitchen and was introduced to the team, all extremely welcoming and happy to answer any questions or point me in the right direction. When Will took over, the kitchen was refurbished to his specifications. With every section visible, the kitchen works seamlessly. As you’d expect ‘the pass’ is at the front of the kitchen, the pastry towards the back and a stunning Bonnet suite stands proudly in the centre. After lunch service and finishing any final Mise en place the team took a well deserved break, ate their staff food (fresh tagliatelle recipes!!) and planned for a busy night. Service starts at 7pm and the restaurant is fully booked, Will runs the service in structured manner, everyone fully understanding what was needed and when. The kitchen has a real flow to it, the food is stunning. I was regularly invited to try and taste the food during the service with Will and the team explaining the reasons behind the combinations and flavours. One of the many stand out dishes was the confit leg and smoked loin of locally shot rabbit, foie gras terrine, passion fruit and celery salad with toasted brioche – Superb! For me, La Bécasse's main strength is Will's willingness to invest his knowledge and experience into his team. Will's knowledge of both front and back of house means you could really grow as a chef within this kitchen, as he oversees every part there is a real sense of structure and team work. Will expressed ‘that with the right attitude there is plenty of room for progression within my kitchen’ By coincidence my stage coincided with La Bécasse’s first year anniversary of winning their highly coveted Michelin Star. After cleaning down we all sat and enjoyed a celebratory drink, the team shared stories of the past year and plans for the future. I could tell this was a team that were going to achieve everything they set their mind to. A big thank you to Will and the team for a fantastic day, it was a great experience!!