Merlin Labron Johnson *

We had the pleasure of hosting chef Merlin Labron Johnson at Villa Louise.

Merlin grew up in Devon, England, and worked in Michelin-starred restaurants around the world before becoming sous chef at Kobe Desramault's restaurant In de Wulf in Belgium. During his time there, In de Wulf was voted the best restaurant in Europe and appeared on numerous lists of the world's best restaurants.

Merlin now lives in rural Somerset where he divides his time between his Michelin-starred 'farm-to-table' restaurant 'Osip', his wine bar and his bistro 'The Old Pharmacy'. "Osip is a small 22-seat restaurant in Bruton, Somerset. It focuses on fresh, local ingredients, much of it grown on his own land. The emphasis is on vegetables, wild herbs and game. There is no menu, instead the kitchen prepares a selection of dishes for each guest based on what has been harvested that morning. In January 2021, just 8 months after opening, "Osip" was awarded a Michelin star.