Award-winning chef Jack Blumenthal has created a new five dish menu for his chicken chain but he says his father Heston told him not to be a chef
Jack Blumenthal, the award-winning chef and son of culinary legend Heston Blumenthal, has whipped up a new five-dish menu for his chicken chain, Ginger Wings, all with a blue cheese twist. This week the new ‘Blue-mental’ will be available in both Marlow and Richmond locations.
The menu includes mini savory filled cheese choux buns, Ginger Wings with Buffalo Blue sauce, and a crispy clucker chicken salad – a unique take on Salad Niçoise. The limited-edition menu has been designed to showcase the new Boursin Blue Cheese Flavour, which is the main ingredient. Jack has followed in his father’s footsteps but has quickly made a name for himself in the gastro-casual scene, redefining fine dining and dubbing his style as ‘fun-dining’.
The 32 year old said: “The new flavor has been a huge inspiration, providing the chance to get creative and celebrate indulgence in a fun way – which is also what Ginger Wings is all about.
“It also made it impossible to choose just one hero dish, which is why there are five on the menu. Each one reflects how something simple can be transformed into something truly special, which is exactly how I approach cooking.”
Discussing his desire to carve out his own successes from his own unique culinary creations, Jack added: “A lot of people used to ask why I didn’t have the name Blumenthal in lights above the door.
“When people come in and try what we do and have an amazing time, they always say ‘I never knew who your dad was’.”
He added that his Dad told him not to be a chef. “He said you’d have no mates, no life – you won’t even see your family, and he was right. But I love what we do.”
Recalling a memorable Christmas Eve, Jack said: “On Christmas Eve a long time ago, I went out in Marlow, and I remember waking up quite hungover to Dad with a hairless goose.
“He made me stand there with a hairdryer and blow-dry this goose for three hours to get the skin crispy.”
Despite the hard work, Jack admitted there were benefits. “I was the first person to try a triple-cooked chip, and now they’re on pretty much every pub menu, everywhere.”
“Dad and I are very similar people,” he added. “We have the same humor, same mannerisms, I just say I’m better looking with more hair.
“He’s changed the world, I’ve seen people cry in front of him – but as his son you think, ‘he’s not that big a deal’.”
In late 2023, following a manic episode that spiraled into psychosis, Heston was hospitalized and diagnosed with bipolar disorder. In a recent documentary, Heston opened up to Jack about his diagnosis and how it had affected their family.
Jack said: “After the documentary about his diagnosis came out, I’ve had messages from social media and it’s helped so many people. There have been difficult moments.
“There have been a few very hairy moments of nearly losing him. But I’m so proud of him and our relationship only strengthened when my daughter was born. He adores her.”
After his own father protested his decision to become a chef, he now says he wouldn’t let his own daughter follow the same path: “There’s no chance she’ll grow up to be a chef—not on my watch. I’ll make my millions and she can be a princess.”
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