Ultimately, the four years Murchison spent with Raymond Blanc at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons remain the greatest influence on Murchison's career as chef and restaurateur.
Today, he is executive chef of L'Ortolan, a restaurant in Shinfield near Reading that's been showered with a Michelin star, three AA rosettes and 8/10 in the Good Food Guide.
As managing director of 10 in 8 Fine Dining Group, Murchison set himself a goal to open 10 Michelin starred restaurants by 2018. With L'Ortolan, Ludlow’s La Bécasse, Bedfordshire’s Paris House and Restaurant Angélique in Devon already up and running, Murchison is the only chef in the UK to operate multiple Michelin starred restaurants outside of London. 'This must be the best food for miles and miles' said The Independent restaurant critic, Caroline Stacey, of L'Ortolan.
There's certainly an artful precision in the preparation and presentation of dishes that sets Murchison's food apart. There’s a riot of carefully balanced textures and flavours going on; complex yet so easy to enjoy. Recipes such as this sea trout recipe with ruby chard and clams, or his fantastic lamb rump recipe exemplify these qualities.
Alan Murchison has also been seen frequently on popular BBC programme, Great British Menu, and appeared on the 2012 series. Dishes cooked in the series include; grilled mackerel with beetroot and horseradish and duck terrine with pineapple.