Mark McCabe has been named head chef at Henrock restaurant, located in the picturesque Lake District and owned by the acclaimed chef Simon Rogan.
McCabe, who previously served as chef-owner at Bristol's Ethicurean restaurant, has joined Henrock following his tenure there. The Ethicurean, which garnered a Michelin Green star, unfortunately closed its doors in October two years ago.
Before his time at the Ethicurean, McCabe honed his skills in kitchens across Paris and Lancashire. He then joined the team at Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall's renowned River Cottage in Dorset.
In 2023, McCabe showcased his culinary prowess by reaching the finals of the National Chef of the Year competition. Additionally, he represented the Scotland region in the esteemed Great British Menu competition during the same year.
At Henrock, situated within the Linthwaite House Hotel overlooking Lake Windermere and launched in 2019, McCabe will craft a menu inspired by Rogan's global travels. This culinary journey will incorporate influences from Rogan's ventures to his restaurants in Hong Kong, Malta, and Thailand.
McCabe is set to assume the position of head chef in March, succeeding Cillian Hennessy. Hennessy will transition into the role of Aulis development chef, where he will focus on researching and refining new dishes.
'As a chef I have always been compelled and inspired by nature, seasonality and sustainability and so the Simon Rogan way of sourcing and cooking aligns so closely with my own personal ethos, it feels like the perfect continuation of the work I have dedicated my career to so far,' said McCabe.
McCabe will collaborate with John Rowland, the manager of Rogan's Our Farm, and the farm's head chef Liam Fitzpatrick to cultivate and preserve a variety of tropical plants and exotic species.
Rogan said: 'Mark is not only a highly-skilled chef but following his experience in kitchens which also harness such a strong connection to where its food is grown, means he has developed a true understanding of growing and an appreciation for nature and sustainability that is rare to find.'
The breakfast and all-day food offerings at Linthwaite House Hotel, including the more casual bar and conservatory menu, will be supervised independently by the hotel's head chef, Gerald Van Der Walt.
The property is affiliated with the Leeu Collection of hotels.