Samira Effa announced as head chef of The Box Tree
Simon Gueller has appointed a new head chef at The Box Tree as he announced this week that he would be heading back into the kitchen after losing the star in the Michelin Guide 2019.
Former head chef of the recently closed Alimentum restaurant, Samira Effa, will take over from Kieran Smith who last week tweeted that he was leaving The Box Tree after a ‘fantastic two and a half years.’
Taking to Twitter to reveal his new chef, Simon said: "I am delighted to announce @samira_effa is joining me as Head Chef of the Box Tree @BoxTreeIlkley Welcome Samira #comeback #comeback @MichelinGuideUK"
Simon said losing the star had ‘reawoken’ something in him. He and his wife Rena, who runs front of house, took over the historic restaurant in 2004. It gained a Michelin star the following year.
Speaking to The Staff Canteen, Simon said: "We're excited to really push on and we are both fiercely ambitious about taking this place as far as possible.
"I came back into the kitchen two weeks ago and there have already been substantial changes, but I'm trying not to do to many at once as I don't want to destabilize the restaurant. It will be an evolution of the food and how rapid or slow that is, is a very organic thing."
I am delighted to announce Samra @samira_effa is joining me as Head Chef of the Box Tree @BoxTreeIlkley Welcome Samira #comeback #comeback @MichelinGuideUK pic.twitter.com/GdxfQg2BZK
— Simon Gueller (@simongueller1) October 25, 2018
Samira started her career at Bradley’s Restaurant in Huddersfield as Chef de Partie. She has also worked at one Michelin starred 21212 in Edinbrugh and Bohemia Jersey.
She tweeted: "I am extremely excited to be joining @BoxTreeIlkley as Head Chef!"
She told The Staff Canteen: "I'm looking forward to getting back into a kitchen, it's been weird not being in the kitchen and I can't wait to start coming up with some cool dishes."
The role was brought to her attention by Daniel Clifford who passed on Simon's number and told her to give him a ring - she will start as head chef next Wednesday. She said: "I've not met the team or seen how the kitchen works so it will be a slow start as I see what I can do but Simon has told me there are definitely areas which need to be changed."
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