D&D promotes Ben Murphy to chef patron of Launceston Place
The 30-year-old has been cooking at the well-known West London restaurant since 2017 following a stint heading the kitchen at Woodford in East London.
Murphy’s promotion coincides with a shift in approach, with the ambitious young chef having recently scrapped some of the more playful aspects of the restaurant, including a menu scattered with emojis and using a mini Henry vacuum cleaner to de-crumb the table.
A homage to the Murphy's grandma, the menu is now presented underneath a draughts-inspired board with diners instructed to remove the pieces to create the meal they want.
The offer is unusually flexible for a restaurant of Launceston Place’s level, with customers able to order practically any combination of dishes, for example all desserts or all meat dishes.
The majority of the dishes are the same although they have been updated slightly. The menu includes celeriac with mint, pecorino and ragout; cod with watermelon, tomato and coriander; and Iberico pork presa with wild garlic, pea and baby gem.
Launceston Place has been home to a number of big names over the decades including Tim Allen, Tristan Welch and Rowley Leigh.
A full interview with Murphy will be published in August, look out for the Restaurant newsletter.