Chef Jonny Lake and Master Sommelier Isa Bal join forces on new project
Former Fat Duck Group alumni Jonny Lake and Isa Bal reveal plans for a new collaborative project.
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Chef Jonny Lake and Master Sommelier Isa Bal have announced that they will be joining forces on a new project scheduled to launch in 2019 in London. The pair worked together for over twelve years at The Fat Duck Group, with Jonny serving as Group Executive Chef and Isa as Group Head Sommelier, but announced their departure earlier this year.
Jonny moved to the UK to join the Fat Duck in 2005 and worked his way up to attain the role of head chef in 2009. He was subsequently made executive head chef of The Fat Duck Group. He has previously worked at the Michelin starred a Spurcacciun-a and Quintilio, both in Liguria, as well as for the legendary Italian chef, Gualtiero Marchesi at L’Albereta in Lombardy.
Master Sommelier Isa began his career in the hospitality industry more than twenty years ago as a commis sommelier at The Vineyard at Stockcross near Newbury and worked as Head Sommelier for the Fat Duck Group for more than twelve years, He is now recognised as one of the world's leading sommeliers, having won the highly regarded title of Best Sommelier of Europe in 2008.
Both gentlemen departed The Fat Duck Group earlier this year to pursue personal projects and deciding to work together on this new project was a no-brainer. Jonny says “Isa and I have always shared the same philosophy and passion for creating interesting flavour combinations and after many discussions, we knew we wanted to collaborate on a new project together.”
The excitement for the pair is palpable, Isa says “Having successfully worked with Jonny over many years. I am now very much looking forward to collaborating on this new exciting project. We share a mutual love of food and drink as well as a passion for the creative process and look forward to sharing this in our own restaurant.”
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