SCOOP X ROGUES
Series 1, Episode 1 - Lee Westcott
Today’s pod marks the start of my collaboration with the head chef and co-owner of Rogues in Hackney Zac Whittle. Join me as I am whisked around London by Zac to meet the successful and sweaty gems of the innovative London hospitality industry.
The opening act for the series is Lee Westcott, currently the executive head chef of Elodie and Vervain, the two restaurants at Birch Selsdon. This is located just outside South London in Croydon in the most beautiful Manor House surrounded by 200 acres of land. Many of these acres are used to grow the produce used in Restaurant Elodie by Lee and his team. You can tell how inspired Lee feels about growing his own vegetables.
As you’ll be able to tell from their jovial manner and cheeky chat, Zac and Lee go way back. Having been friends for over 20 years, these two chaps show how deep-rooted relationships within the hospitality industry can be. Despite the countless late nights and challenging moments at the pass that these two have shared, their passion and love for food and enabling other people to have fun was clear. Whilst they don’t see eye to eye on football, this podcast explores the values they share.
Lee has received a myriad of accolades from Michelin stars, AA Rosettes and Restaurant of the Year in the Sustainable Lifestyle Awards. Lee has worked at many esteemed restaurants within the UK such as Galvin at Windows, Restaurant Tom Aikens, Typing Room and Pensons. However, Lee has also ventured overseas staging at the likes of Per Se in New York and Noma in Copenhagen, and overseeing two of Jason Atherton’s restaurants in Hong Kong.
Studded with awards, Lee remains both humble and kind about his own abilities and recognises other upcoming chefs with lots of potential. I really enjoyed this podcast and I look forward to making more podcasts with Rogues.
In true Lee style, grab a Negroni and enjoy.
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Restaurants, Chefs and Other Mentions:
Lee Westcott
https://leewestcott.com
Birch Community (Selsdon branch)
https://www.birchcommunity.com/selsdon/
Restaurant Elodie
https://www.birchcommunity.com/selsdon/elodie/
Restaurant Vervain
https://www.birchcommunity.com/selsdon/vervain/
Rogues
https://rogueslondon.uk/
Kirk Haworth, “one to watch” vegan extraordinaire and cofounder of Plates London.
https://instagram.com/kirk_haworth?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Rachide SB, “one to watch” chef at Elodie Restaurant.
https://instagram.com/rachidesb?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Lawrence Barrow, “one to watch” chef at Elodie’s Restaurant.
https://instagram.com/lbarrow4?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Restaurant Tom Aikens
https://tomaikens.co.uk/restaurants/
Galvin at Windows
https://www.galvinatwindows.com/
James Atherton
https://jasonatherton.co.uk/
Pensons
https://www.pensons.co.uk/
Typing Room (no longer open)
Per Se
https://www.thomaskeller.com/perseny#
Noma
https://noma.dk/
Perilla
https://www.perilladining.co.uk/
ALL MUSIC IS FROM CREATIVE COMMONS AND LINKED BELOW:
https://freesound.org/people/PercyFrench/sounds/652626/
https://freesound.org/people/Migfus20/sounds/578131/
