Ex Lucknam Park Cookery School head chef wins Chefs on Trial

Last night saw Hrishikesh Desai win BBC 2’s Alex Polizzi: Chefs on Trial and become executive head chef at Gilpin Hotel and Lake House.

Hrishikesh beat off stiff competition to win this coveted role following a rigorous interview process and tough culinary assessments. Desai brings with him a wealth of experience including Institute Paul Bocuse, Les Maison de Bricourt (2*), Le Chateau do Bagnol (1*), French Laundry (3*), and Lucknam ‘The Park’ (1*). He is one of the few chefs to have won both the Roux Scholarship (2009) and the Craft Guild of Chef’s National Chef of the Year (2010), unique in that he won these in consecutive years.

Hrishikesh commented: “I’m absolutely thrilled to have been awarded this exciting new role, this is the job I’ve always wanted. The opportunity to work at a Relais & Châteaux hotel with such a superb reputation is genuinely a dream come true.

“As viewers of the programme will have seen, it was an intense and at times emotional process, but I’m so thankful to have the chance to come to the fabulous Lake District and create some exciting and inspirational new menus in my own distinctive style.”

Situated close to Lake Windermere, the award winning Gilpin Hotel & Lake House is owned and run by the Cunliffe family, who commented: “After a tense week we are thrilled to welcome someone with Hrishikesh’s immense talent to Gilpin. Not only does he have a unique blend of skills and experience, but he is a man of true humility and fits in perfectly with the ethos of our family business. He’s a perfect addition to the existing team, which includes our fantastic head chef Lee Bird. We hope he is with us for many years to come.

"Working alongside Alex Polizzi was an absolute pleasure, we were very proud to be approached to take part in this series. Finding the right blend of culinary talent and business acumen for our restaurant has been a delicate balancing act, and Alex’s expertise has helped add a special dimension to what has been a unique - and very exciting - interview process.”

Find out more about Gilpin here: thegilpin.co.uk/gilpin-restaurant