Norfolk’s chefs come arm in arm

It’s all change for the team at The Norfolk Arms Hotel. After hiring their new Executive Head Chef Luca Mason, he was recently reunited with former kitchen comrade Ben Miller, who has taken on the role of Head Chef.

Daniel White quizzed Luca to find out what to expect from this culinary couple and what tickles his foodie fancies…

Tell us about the new menu
The new menu will be focused on local, seasonal produce specialising in seafood and grills, with some old classics thrown in as well.

Tell us what you like to eat when you’re off duty
I like eating Asian spiced food; Thai is a particular favourite at the moment.

What did you eat for breakfast?
For breakfast I had porridge with blueberries.

What’s the thing you’re most proud of?
I’m very proud of my record, turning restaurants into successful food locations; it’s hard work but very rewarding.

Did you always want to be a chef?
It was a natural progression for me; my father’s a chef so I’ve been in kitchens from a young age.

Sum yourself up in three words
Dedicated, hardworking and committed.

What next for Luca?
Next for me is build a strong team around me and go from strength-to-strength at The Norfolk Arms.

Are you a bit of a Gordon in the kitchen?
No, I’m very relaxed when working, I enjoy my job.

If you were Mayor of Arundel…
If I was mayor, Arundel would probably grind to a halt, but everyone would eat well.

Ben Miller

Ben Miller

FACT FILE
Luca has recently been joined in the kitchen by Ben Miller, and here’s the lowdown on the latest addition to The Norfolk Arms’ team:

  • Ben Miller’s love for cooking first started under the watchful eye of his father, who was the Executive Chef of The Ritz.
  • Ben has worked in some top kitchens across the country; including Amberley Castle, Danesfield House, Restaurant One – O – One in Knightsbridge (London’s Premier Fish Restaurant) and The Bath Spa Hotel, where he personally achieved two AA Rosettes.
  • Ben’s cooking was celebrated by Michel Roux Jr on BBC’s Masterchef The Professionals, where he successfully reached the quarter finals of the competition. An experience he felt was a highlight of his chefing career.
  • Ben has now been reunited with Luca Mason at The Norfolk Arms where they hope to bring plenty of success, as they did for six years at The Ardington Hotel in Worthing.
About Daniel White
Dan has written numerous articles for Title Sussex. He no longer works for Title Media and has made a confident career in the world of coffee!