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[Jason Perlow]

As you will see from his CV below, Shaun combines the running of The Merchant House with writing and consulting, and has 35 years experience in the restaurant trade.

Shaun caused quite a stir in 1994 when he left the luxurious and internationaly renowned Gidleigh Park hotel and restaurant (where he also won a Michelin Star) and moved to the then culinary hinterland of rural Shropshire. The AA guide compared the career change to being like Damien Hill giving up formula 1 racing for driving a bus!

Since the opening of The Merchant House however, Ludlow has become a mecca for "foodies" and professional chefs alike. Shaun's presence has attracted other high flyers to the historic market town which is now home to no less than 3 Michelin starred restaurants and an annual food and drink festival.

Courtesy of those lovely people at Conran Octopus, we have a copy of Shaun's most recent book "Cooking At The Merchant House" to give away to the person who, in the opinion of our UK Co-ordinator Andy Lynes, asks the best question so get posting!

To give you a flavour of Shaun's cooking click here  for an exclusive recipe not featured in the book.

Shaun Hill's CV :

born 1947 London Irish

Cooking experience

1967 - 71 Carriers restaurant London
1972 - 74 Gay Hussar London
1975 - 76 Intercontinental Hotel - Souffle restaurant
1976 - 77 Capital Hotel - working Head Chef
1978 - 80 Blakes Head Chef - setting up new restaurant
1980 - 82 Lygon Arms Head Chef
1983 - 85 Hills Restaurant Stratford upon Avon Chef patron
1985 - 94 Gidleigh Park Chef and MD
1994 - now Merchant House

Awards and similar

Egon Ronay guide Chef of the Year 1993
Caterer and Hotelkeeper Chef award 1993 - Catey
Caterer and Hotelkeeper Restaurateur of the year 2001
senior academicien Academie Culinaire de France

Outside interests

Research fellow Dept of Classics Exeter University
Menu consultant to British Airways

Books

Shaun Hill's Gidleigh Park Cookery Book - Random Century 1990
(reprinted in paperback 1995 as Shaun Hill's Cookery Book)
Quick and Easy Vegetables - BBC Books 1993
Cooking at the Merchant House -  Conran Octopus 2000
(with Dr J Wilkins) Archestratus the Life of Luxury translation and commentary -  Prospect Books 1994

Forthcoming

(with Dr J.Wilkins) Food in Antiquity - Blackwell
The Smart cook - Pavillion