St Albans country hotel and spa, Sopwell House, has announced the appointment of Benny Lee as the new Head Chef of its Asian-inspired restaurant, Omboo.
Lee is from Malaysia with more than 18 years’ experience of working in some of London’s most acclaimed restaurants. His career started in 2006 at the Japanese restaurant, Hare & Tortoise, Lee then went onto hone his craft within Michelin-starred kitchens, including Hakkasan Hanway Place and Kai Mayfair, before making his way to the position of Head Chef at Chinese restaurants Shikumen and Plum Valley in Chinatown. Most recently, he held the title of Master Head Chef at Singaporean restaurant, The Bugis, located in The Bailey’s Hotel in Kensington.
Now at the helm of Omboo, Lee and his team are focused on delivering authentic Asian sharing dishes inspired by the spice routes of the Far East. Staying true to his heritage, Lee has overseen the creation of new menus at Omboo, where the spotlight is on carefully designed dishes utilising traditional culinary techniques that reflect the depths of Asian flavours.
On his appointment, Benny Lee commented: “My aim is to position Omboo as a destination Asian restaurant. My new a la carte and sharing set menus showcase authentic Asian flavours and ingredients inspired from my heritage in contemporary dishes, such as Lobster tail and Chilean seabass.”
David Petitt, Director of Marketing at Sopwell House, comments: “We are delighted to welcome Benny Lee to the Omboo family. I am confident that Benny’s passion for authentic flavours and his meticulous attention to the finest detail will elevate the menu offering at Omboo to new heights.”
