Raymond Blanc gathers former protégés for star-studded anniversary dinner
Raymond Blanc has assembled a star-studded lineup of former protégés for a celebratory dinner to mark the 35th anniversary of Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons.
Brasserie Blanc executive chef Fretwell was the first to join Le Manoir and spent nearly 12 years as head chef from 1986 to 1997.
Caines, chef patron of Lympstone Manor, was the next of the five guest chefs to work under Blanc, for three years from 1989 to 1991.
Hide chef patron Dabbous joined Le Manoir aged 20 in the early 2000s and spent two-and-a-half years in the kitchen, rising to chef de partie.
Gill, who opened the highly acclaimed Darby's in May, initially joined Le Manoir as part of a stage on the butchery section but eventually rose to junior sous chef, before leaving to cook at Blanc's private members club at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium.