Karen loves a challenge and is meticulous about detail in all that she does, concentrating on anticipating a customer’s needs and then exceeding their expectations in terms of professionalism and friendliness.

Currently Assistant Restaurant Manager at the Michelin two-starred Restaurant at Le Manoir Aux Quat’Saisons, near Oxford, Karen manages to juggle new motherhood and her restaurant role with ease and charm. She has been at Le Manoir since 2014 when she joined as a Chef de Rang, and moved up the ranks from Assistant Head Waitress to Head Waitress to her current role.

Previously, Karen worked at Restaurant Sat Bains, near Nottingham, as a Chef de Rang, garnering excellent experience with well-regarded two Michelin-starred Chef Bains. She had shifted to the restaurant after a preliminary period at Le Manoir for 15 months which proved an excellent initial training ground in the UK – Karen started as a Commis de Rang, progressing to Demi Chef de Rang.

French-born Karen studied hospitality for 3 years at Lycée Saint Joseph L’Amandier, she is still in close contact with the college and actively encourages current students to work within the UK hospitality industry. Her studies then took her to Ecole Hotelière Savoie Leman in Thonon-les-Bains for a year, where she received a Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality, Marketing and Management.

Hobbies concentrate on fitness and training, including participating in Tough Mudder (for charity), although she also loves to bake and visit the cinema.