Sopwell House, a country hotel and spa in St Albans, has announced the appointment of Benny Lee as the new Head Chef of Omboo, its Asian-inspired restaurant.

Lee hails from Malaysia and brings over 18 years of experience from some of London's most acclaimed restaurants. His career began in 2006 at the Japanese restaurant Hare & Tortoise. He then refined his skills in Michelin-starred kitchens, including Hakkasan Hanway Place and Kai Mayfair. Lee progressed to the position of Head Chef at Chinese restaurants Shikumen and Plum Valley in Chinatown. Most recently, he served as Master Head Chef at The Bugis, a Singaporean restaurant in The Bailey’s Hotel in Kensington.

Now leading Omboo, Lee and his team are dedicated to delivering authentic Asian sharing dishes inspired by the spice routes of the Far East. Staying true to his heritage, Lee has crafted new menus at Omboo, focusing on carefully designed dishes that utilise traditional culinary techniques to showcase the rich flavors of Asian cuisine.

On his appointment, Benny Lee commented: “My aim is to position Omboo as a destination Asian restaurant. My new a la carte and sharing set menus showcase authentic Asian flavours and ingredients inspired from my heritage in contemporary dishes, such as Lobster tail and Chilean seabass.”

David Petitt, Director of Marketing at Sopwell House, comments: “We are delighted to welcome Benny Lee to the Omboo family. I am confident that Benny’s passion for authentic flavours and his meticulous attention to the finest detail will elevate the menu offering at Omboo to new heights.”