Former Fera chef announces new venture via Instagram

Fera at Claridge’s chef Dan Cox is swapping the Big Smoke for something a little bit more down to earth – an organic farm in Cornwall. The former executive chef of Simon Rogan’s research kitchen Aulis announced his plans to open a restaurant at Crocadon Farm in St Mellion via Instagram this week.

“The day has finally come, I have taken on the most amazing 120 acre organic farm and buildings in St Mellion, Cornwall. All in partnership with Sean O’Neill of The Modern Salad Grower and @goodearthgrowers we plan to build something truly incredible here, growing and cooking together as one, giving food experiences like no other.”

Run in partnership with Sean O’Neill of the Modern Salad Grower and Good Earth Growers, Cox hopes to open the restaurant later this year. The 120-acre organic farm, which will grow food and keep livestock for the restaurant – a farm-to-table experience all in one place – also features a microbrewery. Crocadon has operated as a farm, community event space, bed and breakfast and sawmill for the past 12 years.

The news comes just weeks after the announcement that Rogan and Claridge’s had parted ways. Although his three-year partnership with one of London’s grandest hotels is over, Rogan is still hoping to keep a foothold in the capital by opening his much-loved 2013 pop-up Roganic once again. Fera will continue under the guidance of head chef and Rogan protege Matt Starling, but the restaurant will have a new culinary vision. Other than the “unjustifiable” prices, Fera (and Aulis at Fera) were palpable hits in last year’s Harden’s survey – with “mindblowing food that’s experimental and fun” and “warm service”. Let’s hope the new Starling’s new culinary vision continues in this vein.

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