The former chef-proprietor of a Cis Excellence Restaurant of the Year has joined MacDonald Hotels as executive head chef. Michelin-Starred Tony Borthwick (pictured), who co-owned and ran The Plumed Horse in Ayrshire and Edinburgh, has started his new role at Macdonald Rusacks Hotel in St Andrews, where he will head up One Under, the 3-AA Rosette restaurant, Rocca and the hotel’s champagne bar.

He said: ‘It is an honour to be appointed executive chef.

‘Food is a very personal thing, so my first job is to get the whole brigade to produce the food I want. My menus evolve naturally and I’ve got a few old favourites in my personal repertoire so they’ll be getting an uplift and will be seen on the menus here.’

General manager, Kristian Campbell, added: ‘Tony is an outstanding chef and we’re looking forward to our guests experiencing his dishes. He will be working closely our suppliers to develop new menus and fresh ideas for our restaurants and bar.’

The news follows the announcement that planning permission has been granted for a £7m extension to the hotel, including 44 new suites, a 145-cover rooftop restaurant and glass-fronted suites.

http://www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk