Meet Richard Winfield, Matfen Hall’s New Pastry Chef
- By Matfen Hall
- March 27, 2023
- Announcement
- In the press
We are delighted to unveil The Orangery, our dedicated tea lounge. To celebrate its opening, we caught up with Richard Winfield, our new Pastry Chef. Having catered for the Buckingham Palace Summer Garden Party and the Chelsea Flower Show, Richard is a talented addition to our team and in this Q&A, he shares his influences and discusses his passion for creating a distinctive Afternoon Tea.
What first inspired you to become a pastry chef?
An episode of Take Six Cooks featuring Michael Nadell. My dad had a recording of it and I was blown away by the skill and technical ability. I knew then it was something I wanted to do when I was older.
Besides joining the Matfen Hall team this year, what has been your career highlight so far?
Probably taking part in the 2019 Channel 4 series Bake Off: The Professionals. We fought off stiff competition to make it to the final six teams and were the only independent business to make it that far, so it’s something I am incredibly proud of.
How would you describe your style as a pastry chef?
Refined classics allow me to create beautiful and delicious desserts that are both familiar and exciting.
What do you love most about being a pastry chef?
Being able to be innovative and demonstrate my creativity. I love experimenting with different flavour combinations and ingredients that will hopefully delight the diners.
What attracts you to the challenge of working at Matfen Hall?
It’s a blank canvas following an impressive refurbishment. The kitchen is brand new and state-of-the-art, which is every Chef’s dream! I’m excited to be able to influence the positioning of the hotel at the top end of the luxury market.
What can diners expect from your Afternoon Tea in The Orangery?
They can expect a highly-finished, continental-style patisserie that tastes as good as it looks. I believe that Afternoon Tea should not only be visually appealing but also a perfect marriage of flavours. Given the beautiful surroundings of The Orangery and, by extension, Matfen Hall, the aim is to really wow the guests with the quality of the ingredients.
In your opinion, what makes the perfect Afternoon Tea?
As a time-honoured British tradition, I think it should be a classic combination of finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones and sweet pastries.
Richard is a tremendously talented Pastry Chef, whose expertise and creativity will serve the perfect indulgences to accompany your catch-up with loved ones. Served with your choice of Newby Teas, Café du Monde Coffee or Laurent-Perrier Champagne, our Afternoon Tea is a distinctive experience that provides pure escapism.