Steve Drake has worked at some of the most critically-acclaimed restaurants in Europe including Chez Nico at Ninety Park Lane; the Oak Room with Marco Pierre White; Pied a Terre; Aubergine, as well as well undertaking short stints at L’Arpège in Paris and L’Auberge de l’Eridan, Annecy.
Steve Drake started his culinary career making bacon sandwiches and his first job after college in a professional kitchen was at The Ritz.
He was awarded the Roux Scholarship in 2001, which is widely considered the most prestigious and technically challenging competition in the UK. Steve continues to support his fellow Roux scholars and helps promote their aim of inspiring and enabling a new generation of British chefs.
Steve in the kitchen
Food Style
As a firm believer in the open kitchen philosophy, Steve Drake and his team are happy to chat with guests at Sorrel about the
inspiration behind the food, as well as watching it being prepared up close.
As with a growing number of restaurants, Sorrel is only open four days a week to provide the team with an effective work-life balance. Sorrel prides itself on using the very best of British produce.
Sorrel’s menus are inspired by simplicity, discovery and the ingredients themselves, Steve and his team constantly evolve the menu to follow and reflect the seasons.
Diners can choose from either a three-course lunch or dinner menu or opt from a tasting menu which consists of either five or nine courses.
Example dishes include Pumpkin with parmesan, spiced praline and mandarin, Pollock, smoked bone marrow with carrot, mussel and lovage as well as more intriguing dishes such as Carrot tobacco.
Awards and other projects
As well as being awarded the Roux Scholarship in 2001, Steve has also been consistently featured in the UK’s leading ‘Top 100’ lists including The Sunday Times, Restaurant Magazine and Square Meal.
Sorrel was also named as 'Restaurant of the Year 2018' at the AA Hospitality Awards and was included in The Good Food Guide’s annual Top 50.
Steve has previously been awarded a Michelin Star at Drake restaurant, Ripley also located in Surrey.
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