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Michelin-starred chef Mark Jordan has left the Cow and Lobster, a joint venture with local entrepreneur Jonathan Ruff, just six months after the pair opened the restaurant.
In a shock announcement on social media, Mr Ruff confirmed that Mr Jordan had left to focus on his own restaurant, Mark Jordan on the Beach, based at Beaumont.
The Waterfront-based restaurant opened in October last year and received mixed reviews from islanders. Mr Ruff confirmed that it will now undergo a complete “overhaul” both in look and flavour, with a revamp of the burger and seafood-inspired menu promised.
The Cow and Lobster will remain closed while the update takes place, and customers with vouchers and bookings are being offered refunds.
“Unfortunately Mark has decided to leave the Cow and Lobster to focus on his other restaurant and as all the signage says “Cow and Lobster Mark Jordan” we had no choice but to take the signs down.
“So instead of re-doing the signs by taking Marks name off them we have decided to re-brand completely and carry out a menu overhaul based on the feedback we have received over the last few months,” Mr Ruff explained.
Pictured: Michelin-starred chef Mark Jordan and entrepreneur Jonathan Ruff inside their restaurant.
The renovation will see the restaurant take on its third ‘look’ under Mr Ruff’s management. Linked with Mr Ruff’s adjacent gaming venture, Tamba Arcade, the diner was previously known as Tamba Bar. He suggested that the update would see this link re-established.
“3rd time lucky?” the dinosaur entrepreneur quipped.
Despite confessing to "run solo most of the time", the venture marked Mr Ruff's first collaboration. He took on the business and marketing elements, while Mr Jordan controlled the menu - a 'stripped back' version of his usual Michelin style, which included the top chef's famous poached oysters, along with grilled whole lobsters and a selection of burgers and steaks. "This is the only time I am sharing, but with Mark it's pretty easy. He leaves me to my side, I leave him to his side," he commented in a previous Express interview.
Pictured: The bar at the Cow and Lobster.
He hinted that the Cow and Lobster could be "the first of a few restaurants" for the pair, adding that they had several 'top secret' ideas. "Mark has so many great ideas and he is so talented in the kitchen, he can do so many different things. We have got some great ideas, if we can make some of them a reality it would be nice," he said.
Mr Ruff did not confirm in his statement whether this would be the end of all work between the pair.
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