This March, The Game Bird will launch a new guest chef series, welcoming many of the greatest chefs from around the UK to cook in the critically-acclaimed restaurant within The Stafford London.
First in the series, on Friday 23 March, will be Michael Wignall. From a childhood in Lancashire filled with home-cooked food and exciting international flavours from the family’s travels, to a professional career spanning Michelin-starred restaurants around the country, Wignall is one of the UK’s most well-regarded chefs.
Pivotal roles have included Pennyhill Park, where he was awarded two Michelin stars for The Latymer, and most recently, Gidleigh Park, where Wignall retained the restaurant's two Michelin stars, and also became the first chef in the guidebook’s 61-year history to be awarded five AA rosettes in the mid-year presentations.
For his one-off appearance at The Game Bird, Wignall will be creating a unique five-course menu, celebrating wonderful British ingredients, presented in new and inventive ways alongside exciting international flavours.
To start, there will be Torched eel, rillette and consommé, Granny Smith, aerated white chocolate, Oscietra caviar, and Anjou Pigeon, parsnip bark, kale, parsley oil, fermented garlic, spring truffle.
For the fish course, Wignall will serve Cod poached in single estate olive oil, cauliflower, scallop and charcoal emulsion, coconut and curry, which will be followed by Aged West Country duck, black quinoa, charred onion, smoked fresh ricotta, nasturtium.
For dessert, a Hazelnut praline parfait will be served with caramel, bitter chocolate and frozen yoghurt.
The second dinner in the series will be held on Thursday 7 June, with Lisa Allen, Executive Chef of the Michelin-starred Northcote in Lancashire. Allan will bring her playful style to The Game Bird, with innovative twists on classic Lancastrian dishes.
Both chefs will cook alongside the team at The Game Bird and the newly-appointed Culinary Director of The Stafford London, Ben Tish. The events on 23 March and 7 June will be followed by further guest chef appearances throughout the year, with names and dates to be confirmed in due course.
General Manager of The Stafford London, Stuart Procter, commented, “I have known both Michael and Lisa for many years, and as two of the country’s greatest chefs, I am delighted to be welcoming them to The Game Bird to kick off our guest chef series.”
