The All In One Ultimate Restaurant List Interview: Fera

The foodie world was all aflutter when it heard that Simon Rogan would be taking over the restaurant at Claridge's from Gordon Ramsay. Simon had already long been a favourite of gourmands and critics alike thanks to L'Enclume in the Lake District and Roganic, his two-year 'pop-up' in Marylebone. Fera is the highest new entry on our top 100 Ultimate Restaurant List this year at number 9, and here Simon tells us about bringing his farm to table approach to the luxury hotel.

What does Fera do that nowhere else does?
It is a restaurant that combines the best of urban London in the middle of Mayfair with a strong connection to the countryside, with its menus inspired by our own farm and its seasonal offerings. 

What advice would you give to chefs starting out?
Eat out as much as you can, taste, learn, train your palate - and then get experience working in a variety of different restaurants to explore the style of cooking that suits you best.
 
What is a common misconception about being a chef?
Some people think that it is glamorous since they only see it from the customer's perspective, but the reality is that no matter how much you love the ingredients and cooking in general there is a lot of hard, hard work that goes into creating a great menu and maintaining its consistency, as well as running an efficient kitchen. 
 
What is your guilty pleasure?
 A large gin and tonic at the end of the day.
 
What is the best thing about London’s restaurant scene?
It is so diverse - every cuisine you could imagine is here, and the quality gets better and better at every level, from casual cafes to Michelin-starred establishments.
 
Which new restaurants have excited you recently?
The Clove Club, Antidote and the new-ish Roka around the corner from Claridge's are all very good.