Suffolk food specialist, Infusions Group, have announced the appointment of Lee Cooper as their new Development Chef, to head up the ICE Cook School, Cook Shop and Café based on their Rougham site.

Lee joins ICE from The Oaksmere Hotel and Restaurant in Eye.  A chef for over 20 years, Lee’s career started in the North West of England and included key roles at prestigious venues including Crewe Hall and Mottram Hall.

Lee then moved to take up the role of Senior Sous Chef in the Hilton Manchester Deansgate shortly after its opening, where he was instrumental in shaping the kitchen, before a spell working for gastro pub group Brunning and Price across a number of properties.

In 2014 Lee joined prestigious Suffolk hotel The Ickworth as Head Chef, leading a brigade of 11 where he stayed for three and a half years, developing his passion for farm to fork dining and creating innovative seasonal menus using traditional values and cooking techniques whilst complimenting them with modern technical skills to obtain fantastic textures and flavours.

As Development Chef at ICE Lee will be responsible for the day to day running of the ICE Cook School, Cafe and Cook Shop, running cookery courses and will also work with Chefs across the UK on a variety of development work projects and industry initiatives such as Passion to Inspire.

Lee commented: “I’m delighted to take up this role at ICE.  The Infusions Group has a second to none reputation in the industry for quality products and expert knowledge, I’ve been a customer of theirs for a while and I’m pleased to become a part of their team at a time of significant growth for the company.”

Infusions Group Managing Director, John Jackaman added: “We are thrilled to welcome Lee as a key part of our team.  This is an exciting time for us as we are beginning work on a new venture which we hope to launch in early Autumn, and having a talented, dedicated Chef full of ideas working with us to head up that offering is critical.”