Lionel is Chef/Patron of the ‘Clarendon,’ an 18th century inn with elegant rooms and award winning menus and real ale, situated in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
Born in Nancy in Eastern France, from the age of six Lionel worked in his Grandfather’s bakery. It was there that he drew inspiration and belief in simplicity and quality of ingredients. After classical training and graduation from ‘Ecole Hoteliere de Strasbourg’ in 1982, Lionel spent three years at ‘Le Restaurant des Vannes’ in Liverdun, a 2 star Michelin restaurant with Head Chef Jean Pierre Cotard.
He moved to England over 25 years ago and has since cooked in Michelin
starred restaurants and worked as a college lecturer. He has also owned and run restaurants, delicatessen, coffee shops and a cookery school in Yorkshire for over twelve years.
A highlight for Lionel was winning the ‘Yorkshire Professional Chef of the
Year’ competition in 2006. More recent awards include 2011 ‘National Chef of the Year’ semi-finalist, a medal winner in the ‘British Open Cookery Competition’ 2012 and in the Yorkshire Evening Post Oliver Awards ‘Best Restaurant Service’ in 2013 and his previous venture ‘Mirabelle’ was awarded ‘Best European Restaurant’ in 2014.
In his book ‘From Alsace To Yorkshire’ Lionel celebrates some of the great recipes he has inherited and developed himself. He also provides an insight into one chef’s challenging and often painful journey through life, from France to England, from Alsace to Yorkshire.
Clarendon won ‘Best Rural’ 2016 in the prestigious Oliver awards and this year, they are shortlisted for three awards so watch this space!
