Rick Stein Restaurants appoints head of food

Seafood restaurant chain, Rick Stein, has announced the appointment of Jason Wass as its new head of food, working alongside chef director Jack Stein to align with the brand’s ethos of “simple food, cooked well”. 

In his new role, Wass will oversee all aspects of menu development in all 10 Rick Stein restaurants across Cornwall, Hampshire, Wiltshire, Dorset and London.  

He will also be responsible for sourcing the finest ingredients, integrating innovative culinary techniques to enhance the existing offering, as well as developing new ranges for Rick Stein’s nationwide online fishmongers.

Wass has extensive hospitality industry experience, having previously worked at Gordon Ramsay Group as senior sous chef, Russell Norman’s Polpo Ltd as group executive chef, and most recently operations director at Upmarket Leisure (Gino D’Acampo Restaurants, Radio Rooftop London). 

Rick Stein, owner and co-founder of Rick Stein Restaurants, said: “I’m very excited that Jason is joining the team and will be responsible for overseeing all food, alongside chef director Jack. From the moment Jason and I first started talking, he’s shown he really understands the most important point of food in any restaurant which is balance between excitement, taste and creativity in dishes. 

“It’s especially exciting to have Jason on board as we enter 2025 and prepare to celebrate our 50th anniversary – we are planning some serious celebrations for next year!” 

Wass added: “It’s a pleasure to be joining the Rick Stein team – I’m looking forward to working closely with Jack and Rick on developing menus across the strong portfolio of restaurants, with exciting plans in the works for the 50th anniversary. 

“I’ve always admired the Steins’ passion for seafood with a simple but flavourful approach to cooking, and I’m eager to continue to create fantastic dishes for our customers.”