Island Life Magazine Ltd August/September 2008 | Page 98

life

FOOD & DRINK

The Hambrough
welcomes
Michelin starred
Robert Thompson
as Chef Patron
The Hambrough on the Isle of Wight is delighted to
announce the arrival of the new Chef Patron, Robert
Thompson. Thompson will take up the post from Monday
21st July at this renowned boutique establishment in the
South coast town of Ventnor.

From his school days there have
been references to his natural
talent, having started Catering
School at the tender age of 16,
Thompson achieved acclaimed
grades and went on to become
a regional finalist in the Gordon
Ramsay Scholarship.
In 2002 he was awarded
Young Chef of the Year and
was recognized as a national
finalist by The Roux Scholarship.
Thompson won an Acorn Award
in 2006, 4/5 Rosettes in the AA
Guide and an unprecedented
9/10 in the Good Food Guide
– their comment read “the
high gloss finish is even more
remarkable when one considers
Thompson is still in his early
twenties yet he is cooking at the
level of a French master with
decades under his belt”. His first
Michelin star came in 2006 at an
inc redible age of just 23 years
old, the youngest ever to achieve
this standard.
Thompson joins The
Hambrough from Cliveden
where he was Head Chef.
Unable to resist the opportunity
to have his own name above
the door and tempted by the
untapped potential of the island,

98

Thompson is thrilled by his latest
challenge:
“What better opportunity
can there be? I’m filled with
excitement at the thought of
taking on The Hambrough
and I have a great feeling of
something big around the
corner. In one day you can find
the most amazing produce on
the Island, there is so much for
me to discover and so much for
me to take inspiration from. Not
many get the opportunity to
achieve their life time ambitions,
they may never be in the right
place at the right time. I have
the opportunity right now. With
vision and the commitment of
my team along with my own
burning ambition to reach the
top, I can not wait to light up
the stoves and start my next
adventure.”
On his recent visits to the
Island he has already established
working partnerships with a
variety of local Island based
producers.
Thompson will be bringing his
own kitchen brigade and will be
joined by Johan Brouckaert as
General Manager. Brouckaert
has a wealth of experience

www.wightfrog.com/islandlife