MasterChef's Kim Woodward is first woman to run London's Savoy Grill

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Kim Woodward has been appointed head chef at world famous restaurant
Art deco Grill has fed prime ministers, musicians and actors for decades
Yet Masterchef runner-up is the first woman to hold the sought-after role
Has said ‘masculine' culinary traditions like daily roast trolley to continue

By Harriet Sime for the Daily Mail

Published: 16:03 EST, 24 April 2015 | Updated: 03:04 EST, 25 April 2015

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Momentous: Kim Woodward is the first woman to be appointed head chef at the Savoy Grill

A former MasterChef semi-finalist has become the first woman to run the prestigious Savoy Grill kitchen in its 126-year history.

Kim Woodward has been appointed head chef at the famous venue, which has hosted lunches for the likes of prime ministers, musicians and captains of industry for decades.

The 34-year-old follows in the footsteps of a string of maître chefs who have headed the kitchen since its opening in the Strand, London in 1889.

Auguste Escoffier — dubbed ‘chef of kings’ — was installed by hotel manager César Ritz when the Savoy first opened.

Since then, a number of well-known chefs have followed, including Marcus Wareing and Andy Cook — but never a woman

Ms Woodward, who lives in Camden, said: ‘It is an absolute honour for me to be the head chef here in one of London’s most iconic restaurants. Obviously there is so much history here, and the people who come through the door come here for the classic dishes that the Grill is famous for.’

At the five-star, art deco Grill, which is now part of the Gordon Ramsay stable, Woodward will head a team of about 35 chefs, of whom some 40 per cent are women.

It marks her return to the venue — she was a sous chef between 2010 and 2012, before becoming head chef at the York & Albany gastropub in Camden. She reached the semi-final of the 2011 series of MasterChef: The Professionals.

The Cheshire-born chef said she would continue the ‘masculine” culinary traditions established by Escoffier, including a daily roast trolley, and classics such as Beef Wellington and Dover sole.

It was more important to keep the Grill true to its traditions of “great quality cuts of meat and fish” rather than regain the Michelin star lost when it closed for refurbishment in 2007, she said, adding: ‘People are here because it is a classic grill.’

As well as powerful men, the Savoy Grill has been a magnet to some of the world’s most famous women including Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, Doris Day and Victoria Beckham. It was also where Vivien Leigh met her future husband Laurence Olivier.

Heritage: But the Materchef contestant has promised to continue the 'masculine' traditions of five-star Grill

Inside the prestigious Savoy Grill restaurant (related)

Escoffier created a number of famous dishes at the Savoy, including Peach Melba in 1893, in honour of Australian singer Nellie Melba, and Melba Toast in 1897. Another signature dish, Omelette Arnold Bennett, was created for the novelist and is still on the menu.

Ms Woodward said she hoped to bring her own trademarks to the Grill, including a tonka bean and strawberry millefeuille dessert.