Maids Head Hotel Head Chef Le Cordon Bleu

Norwich – Maids Head Hotel Head Chef is National Chef of the Year Finalist

Marcin ‘Magic’ Pomierny (age 35), Head Chef at the Maids Head Hotel in Tombland, Norwich and Chef of the Year in the EDP Norfolk Food and Drink Awards 2016, is a finalist in the 2020 Craft Guild of Chefs National Chef of the Year competition. Magic reached the semi-final of the competition in 2018 and 2019.

Ten chefs are competing in the final cook off at Le Cordon Bleu cookery school in London on Monday, September 7. The winner will be revealed on Wednesday, September 30 during Hospitality Week.

Magic will be cooking the menu, which followed a brief from the judges, that he submitted to reach the semi-final. The menu features tapas style starters with Gilt head bream as the key ingredient, a locally sourced lamb main course, and strawberries and cream for dessert. Magic’s Norfolk Lamb Saddle is sourced from Green Farm Lamb, Little Barningham. His dessert is texture of Norfolk strawberry with elderflower parfait, pistachio and English sparkling wine.

Magic said: “I am really looking forward to take part in the final cook off. I learned a lot in my two semi-final appearances and will be focussed on winning the competition for the Maids Head, Norwich and Norfolk.”

Christine Malcolm, General Manager, Maids Head Hotel said: “Everyone at the hotel is rooting for Magic. It is such fantastic news that he has made the final of the National Chef of the Year competition and we wish him all the luck in the cook off on September 7.”

Marcin ‘Magic’ Pomierny comes from near Krakow in Poland. He trained as a chef in Poland and studied catering for diabetics as an additional subject. Magic moved to Norwich in June 2005; his brother and sister were already in the city.

He spoke little English at the time and his family helped secure him a job as a kitchen porter at Tatlers, where he did washing up and food preparation for one year. Then Magic worked for Pulse and The Library for 18 months, followed by McIntoshes Kitchen for another 18 months.

His next job in 2009 was Sous Chef at Rare Steak House and he moved on to The Mad Moose where he was Sous Chef for two years and Head Chef for one year. Magic arrived at the Maids Head Hotel as Sous Chef in May 2013 and was promoted to Head Chef in September 2013.

For more information about the Maids Head Hotel see www.maidsheadhotel.co.uk. To reserve a table for lunch or dinner in the WinePress Restaurant, the Maids Head Hotel, Norwich, t. 01603 272010.

For more information about the National Chef of the Year competition see www.nationalchefoftheyear.co.uk