A Norfolk chef who worked at Michel Roux Jr's world-famous restaurant has marked its closure by recreating its most famous dish.

Daniel Smith got his big break when, aged 18, in January 1994 he was hired at the two-Michelin starred Le Gavroche in London.

He grew up in Caister and had wanted to be a chef from the age of 12, starting with a Saturday job turning candyfloss and selling ice cream at Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach.

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Great Yarmouth Mercury: Daniel Smith - chef-patron of The Ingham Swan and The Wildebeest restaurants in NorfolkDaniel Smith - chef-patron of The Ingham Swan and The Wildebeest restaurants in Norfolk (Image: Supplied)

He worked in the kitchen at Le Gavroche until April 1995 and he cooked for many famous people during his time at the Mayfair institution, including Princess Diana.

The French fine dining destination was opened in 1967 by brothers Michel and Albert Roux.

Michel Roux Jr, Albert's son, took over in 1991, but in January 2024 it closed for good as he wanted a "better work-life balance". 

Great Yarmouth Mercury: The Souffle Suissesse was always on the menu at Le GavrocheThe Souffle Suissesse was always on the menu at Le Gavroche (Image: Supplied)

After kickstarting his career at Le Gavroche, whose other former employees include Gordon Ramsey and Marco Pierre White, Mr Smith returned to Norfolk.

After working at various venues, he went on to open two of his own restaurants - The Ingham Swan, near Stalham, in 2010 and The Wildebeest in Stoke Holy Cross in 2015. 

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Great Yarmouth Mercury: Fabio Miani, head chef, and Daniel Smith, chef-patron (L-R) at The WildebeestFabio Miani, head chef, and Daniel Smith, chef-patron (L-R) at The Wildebeest (Image: Supplied)

Mr Smith has also appeared on BBC2's Great British Menu and he has won various awards, including Restaurant Chef of the Year at the Craft Guild of Chefs Awards 2017.

To mark the closure of Le Gavroche, he has recreated Michel Roux Jr’s signature Soufflé Suissesse, using Swiss cheese, which is available from January 13 until the end of February at both his three AA-Rosette awarded Norfolk restaurants.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: The Souffle Suissesse is available at both The Wildebeest and The Ingham Swan The Souffle Suissesse is available at both The Wildebeest and The Ingham Swan (Image: Supplied)

Mr Smith said: "Working at Le Gavroche was the pinnacle point of my career and I learnt how food should taste and be presented and also about time management. 

"It was a very sad moment when it closed and the Roux family has left a huge legacy.

"We are paying tribute by serving a dish that never came off the menu at Le Gavroche."