MasterChef winner opens first restaurant

According to "surf dictionary" definition, The Green Room, referring to inside the barrel of a wave, is a great place to be – and this place certainly qualifies. MasterChef winner and keen surfer, Chef James Nathan has opened his first restaurant, The Green Room, near the surf hot spots of North Cornwall at five star Retallack Resort and Spa. Housed in a light, airy room overlooking the resort’s in-house FlowRider – Cornwall’s only artificial wave – The Green Room offers a blend of the traditional and contemporary both in menu and style. The restaurant serves lunch, dinner and everything in-between. James draws on his love for Cornwall and his passion for surfing to inspire his crisp, invigorating dishes making the menu exciting and innovative. With an impressive CV behind him, James Nathan won the BBC’s Amateur MasterChef competition in 2008, after throwing in his job as a barrister to pursue his dream profession. Since then he has worked in some of the most famous kitchens in Europe, including Michel Roux Jr’s, Michael Caines’, Michel and Sebastian Bras’ and Rick Stein’s. James enjoys simple flavour combinations and has a minimalistic style which is why he is attracted to the rugged simplicity of rural Cornwall: ‘I’ll be drawing on my experience of working with some of the top chefs in the world, but also taking inspiration from the fantastic local produce on our doorstep here on the north Cornwall coast.’ Cornish produce is incredibly varied and James describes the county as a "massive natural larder" from which he can source meat, shellfish, fish and vegetables all freshly and organically cultivated nearby to create a delicious and impressive array of dishes. Favourites include his speciality crab linguini with chilli, lemon grass, sea lettuce and coconut, Porthilly mussels with Camel Valley wine and oyster sauce the popular scallops, mango salsa, lime, coriander, black sesame and coconut, not to mention his MasterChef winning dish: chicken ballotine, porcini mushrooms, mash potatoes, spinach and carrots in a Madeira sauce. An avid supporter of local businesses and artisan producers, James is supremely interested in the provenance of food and the exceptional quality of his ingredients, clearly evident in his dishes. James Nathan’s unique style will ensure that the Green Room will become an attraction in its own right. Cornish artists’ work adorns the walls and leading local interior designers are responsible for the forward thinking interior which includes a bar top made from resin also used in the manufacture of surf boards. Putting the Green Room within a resort that has exceptional 5 star accommodation, fabulous grounds, wonderful spa experiences and Cornwall’s only inland wave and you start to understand the fresh new synergy that’s taking place at Retallack Resort. There are few places where you can enjoy a family friendly experience by day and fine dining by night. Retallack Resort and Spa is proud to be able to offer something for everyone.