Great British Menu chef Ahmed Abdalla is leaving top York restaurant Legacy, reports MAXINE GORDON
A TOP city chef is leaving one of York's best restaurants.
York chef Ahmed Abdalla is to leave one the city's best fine-dining restaurants to pursue ambitions of opening a venue of his own.
Ahmed, who leads the kitchen at Legacy restaurant within The Grand, York, is set to depart later this month after helping establish the restaurant as one of the city's leading culinary destinations.
The chef, who has lived in York for the past decade, said the move marks the next stage of his career as he looks to create a restaurant centred on local produce, community and Yorkshire hospitality.
Ahmed has become a familiar face to food lovers across the region, both through his work at Legacy and after appearing on the BBC's 20th anniversary series of Great British Menu, where he represented Yorkshire and the North East before returning as a wildcard chef in the final.
Speaking about his future ambitions, Ahmed said Yorkshire's rich food heritage has been a major inspiration.
"York and Yorkshire have a massive strength in the variety of produce that they have to offer," he said.
"I love being able to weave elements of our locality into whatever I am cooking.
"This way, whatever I put on a plate or a menu pays homage to our county. Using cuisines with Yorkshire produce creates a really enjoyable and truly interesting dish."
Originally from London, Ahmed moved to York without knowing the city but quickly developed a strong connection with the area.
Over the years he has become an advocate for Yorkshire ingredients, highlighting everything from locally reared meat and award-winning fruit to fish landed on the east coast and foraged produce gathered closer to home.
While food remains at the heart of his plans, Ahmed said it is the sense of community he has experienced during his time in York that has shaped his long-term ambitions.
He hopes to create a venue that becomes a gathering place for local people and a key part of the city's dining scene.
"I moved to York having never been here before and, from the beginning, I was welcomed with open arms by locals," he said.
"It is true that Yorkshire hospitality is different: no frills, no fuss, just warm and friendly, and you never leave feeling hungry.
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"It was clear to me from very early on in relocating that I wanted to stay here, and now I want to create something for the community that encompasses what I have found during my time here."
Ahmed joined The Grand, York after building a career across restaurants, hotels and hospitality venues including Yorebridge House, Swinton Park and York restaurant Skosh.
He initially worked at The Rise, the hotel's brasserie restaurant, before taking on a leading role in the creation and launch of Legacy in 2022.
During his time at the restaurant, Ahmed worked alongside The Grand's executive chef Kevin Bonello and helped develop a young kitchen team while steering Legacy to national recognition.
Under his leadership, the restaurant earned three AA Rosettes, secured inclusion in the Michelin Guide and was named among The Telegraph's 14 best restaurants in York.
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