Ivan Vukadinovic named head chef at Frenchie Covent Garden

Ivan Vukadinovic has been promoted to head chef at Frenchie in London's Covent Garden.

The 26-year-old joined the restaurant as a demi chef de partie in 2017 and has risen through the ranks working alongside the group's chef patron Greg Marchand. He replaces Victor Avonds, who left to open her own restaurant, Victor, in Antwerp.

Vukadinovic started his career as demi chef de partie at the Belmond Hotel Cirpirani in Venice at the age of 18, before moving to London. He also worked at Frenchie's flagship at the Rue du Nil in Paris as junior sous chef, during which time the restaurant earned its Michelin star.

After returning to the UK, Vukadinovic spent time in Michelin-starred kitchens including London's Clove Club, Hide and Roganic before returning to Frenchie Covent Garden in 2020.

"I knew early on that Frenchie was going to be the place for me, and I'm so pleased Greg and team have supported me and my ideas over the past four years," said Vukadinovic.

"I'm thrilled to now be head chef here in Covent Garden and look forward to getting stuck in with my team, whom I hope I can support in the same way. I am so excited to be taking up this new challenge and can't wait to show you our new dishes in the coming weeks".

Marchand, who founded Frenchie in Paris in 2009 before launching the sister London site in 2016, said the restaurant would be "in the very best of hands" under his new head chef.

"We couldn't be more thrilled to have been able to promote within our Frenchie family and Ivan could not be more deserving," he added.