They say that the cream rises to the top, but Tom Booton has blown the cap off the bottle by becoming head chef of The Grill at London’s iconic Dorchester hotel at the ripe old age of 26.
Despite his tender age, he already knows a thing or two about cooking, and certainly enough to have wowed The Dorchester’s UK regional director, Robert Whitfield, when he checked out the Mayfair opposition at The Westbury.
Now, as the youngest head chef in the restaurant’s 88-year history, beating his famous predecessor Anton Mosimann by two years, Booton’s arrival marks the next chapter for The Grill under the direction of fresh talent.
Tom Booton, top of page, will be putting his own stamp on the legendary Grill dining room, above
Over the coming months he will be putting his own stamp on the legendary dining room and its menus, with the unveiling anticipated for early October.
Beginning his career at the age of 15, Booton’s talent saw him rise through the ranks at leading restaurants including Le Talbooth, L’Autre Pied and Dabbous before ascending to the role of head chef at Michelin-starred Alyn Williams at The Westbury.
Robert Whitfield said this week: “Tom Booton’s talent and energy provide a formidable match in re-affirming The Grill at The Dorchester.
“2019 marks a new culinary chapter for The Dorchester, with the recent appointment of Stefan Trepp, our first executive in 20 years, and this autumn’s re-launch of The Grill on Tom’s watch.”
Joining in this new chapter of The Grill, Kieran McLoughlin, 2018 Restaurant Manager of the Year, has been appointed as general manager, joining from Hide restaurant in August, and Adam Nevin has joined to support Booton in the kitchen as sous chef.
