Tom Millar to replace Sam-Ashton Booth as head chef of Stem

Head chef of  Stem Sam Ashton-Booth has resigned; this week will be his last at the Mayfair restaurant. 

The chef told The Staff Canteen that his sous chef, Tommy Millar, will be taking over the kitchen, but said he wasn't able to comment on what prompted him to leave, nor what his plans for the future are.

• CHEF PROFILE: Sam Ashton-Booth, head chef at Stem in Mayfair
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• 10 minutes with: Mark Jarvis

Sam announced his departure in an Instagram post earlier this week. He said:

“I am so proud of everything we have achieved here, and would like to thank all the suppliers, staff and guests for the last twelve months.”

“I have been blessed with the most incredible team of hard-working chefs, and couldn’t have done it without them.”

Meanwhile, Stem and Anglo Farringdon chef patron Mark Jarvis said Sam was leaving on good terms.

He said: “I think he’s just leaving to do his own thing. He hasn’t said too much, maybe he’ll just have a break.”

Tom Millar, who interviewed at Anglo and joined Stem as soon as it opened, is looking to step up.

He's the perfect fit, Mark explained, because he understands the menu and the new direction in which the chef patron wishes to take the restaurant, which will focus less on the tasting menu and more of an a la carte offering.  

"His cooking is really something quite special," he said. 

"He's got a good pedigree," said Mark. 

Prior to working with them, Tom worked at The Ledbury, The Vineyard, 30 James Street Hotel and the Radisson Blu.

Together, with help from Sam, the team have devised a new a la carte menu, which he says is a lot more accessible than the restaurant has been thus forward.

“I see it being a big hit,” he said.

Image: Sam Ashton-Booth and Mark Jarvis

Sam joined Stem restaurant when it launched in the spring of last year. He ran the kitchen while Emma Underwood managed the front of house. Emma also resigned from her position at Stem and will be the front of house manager at Robin Gill's soon-to-launch Irish-inspired Darby's in the Embassy Gardens development.

Prior to working at Stem, Sam staged at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, Marcus Wareing at The Ledbury and Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester. He then worked for Michael Caines at Gidleigh Park before going to Restaurant Story, then Anglo.