Pidgin appoints new head chef

Hackney restaurant, Pidgin, has announced it has appointed Greg Clarke as its new head chef.

Clarke will takeover from Adolfo De Cecco on 11 March, with De Cecco preparing to open his own restaurant. The restaurant’s owners James Ramsden and Sam Herlihy, who also run Heddon Street’s Magpie restaurant, said they “couldn’t be more excited” to announce the new chef, adding that they felt the new head chef “gives us even more opportunity to push Pidgin forwards”.

The new chef will join the tasting menu restaurant having previously worked at Notting Hill’s 108 Garage, The Ledbury, Le Gavroche, and Restaurant Martin Wishart in Edinburgh. Whilst working at 108 Garage, Clarke was serving a six-course tasting dinner menu priced at £60, which changed daily.

Clarke said: “I feel lucky to be joining such an inspiring team, at East London’s most innovative restaurant. I’m excited for the opportunity to take Pidgin to the next level.”

Ramsden added: “Greg’s background in both classical and contemporary styles of cooking provides great scope for a new direction, and Sam and I can’t wait to start writing menus with him.

“We’re really proud to operate a restaurant where ambitious and creative chefs get the opportunity to show their creativity whilst still giving our guests flat-out delicious food, and we’re looking forward to taking Pidgin onto the next level.”