Christopher Naylor (chef)

Christopher Naylor (born 28 November 1970) is a British head chef, leading the kitchen of the Michelin starred Restaurant Vermeer in Amsterdam, Netherlands.[2] Under his leadership, Restaurant Vermeer was awarded one Michelin star in the periods 2005–2007 and 2011–present.[3][4][5][6]

In 2004, Naylor took over the two starred Restaurant Vermeer from head chef Pascal Jalhaij.[7] As new head chef, Michelin warned Naylor that it was virtual impossible to retain both Michelin stars and difficult to keep one star.[8] To everyone's surprise, Naylor managed to retain one star.[9][10] In 2007, he was not so lucky and the restaurant lost its star.[11] After three years without a star, the quality of the cooking of Naylor was again recognised with a Michelin star for restaurant Vermeer in 2011.[12]

In 2016, while Vermeer – which is part of fivestar, NH Hotel Group owned hotel Barbizon Palace – was closed for an intensive refurbishment, Naylor opened pop-up restaurant Roomservice at Olof's in an adjacent church.[13] This restaurant was furbished with former inventory of the hotel. Apart from Vermeer, Naylor will also be responsible for the restaurant in Amsterdam-based hotel Doelen, which is part of the NH Collection label.[14]

Naylor had his formal cooking education in Cheshire, United Kingdom, at the Weaverham High School and the Mid Cheshire College of Further Education. In the Netherlands, he started as sous-chef in "Hotel Grand", under Albert Roux. Later he moved on to La Rive and worked as junior sous-chef under Robert Kranenborg. He continued his collaboration with Kranenborg as sous-chef in Vossius and head-chef in La Cirque.[15]