Lee Redman Wins Senior Chef of the Year

We are very proud to announce that Lee Redman, our Executive Chef at Glyndebourne, has been named Senior Chef of the Year at the Compass Chef of the Year Competition! 

Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the Compass Chef of the Year competition took place this week at The School of Culinary Arts & Food Technology in Technological University Dublin. The annual event brings together some of the most talented chefs across Compass Group UK & Ireland, providing an opportunity to showcase creativity, skill and passion for exceptional food. 

In the Senior Chef of the Year category, competitors had two and a half hours to prepare a three-course menu using a mystery box of ingredients. The menu was required to include a plant-based starter, a main course using the provided protein and a dessert featuring both hot and cold elements. 

Lee impressed the judges with a menu that perfectly balanced innovation and flavour. His starter featured heritage tomatoes with pumpkin seed and chive emulsion, followed by a main course of slow roasted venison with parsnip and blackberry jus. The meal concluded with a brown butter and pecan sponge accompanied by poached pear and orange caramel. 

Reflecting on his win, Lee said: 

“It was a fantastic event. The competition was tough, but I am really proud to come away with the title especially in the 25th year of such a prestigious and established competition. I cooked from the heart and it paid off!” 

This win follows an exceptional season at Glyndebourne under Lee’s leadership, where he guided the culinary team to deliver outstanding dining experiences. 

Please join us in congratulating Lee on this remarkable achievement!