What was your first industry job?
Back in 2016 in Australia, upon graduating high school, I took my first job at McDonald’s Redcliffe. Still to this day, I use many skills I learned whilst working there such as a keen eye for detail and elite organisation. After all, they are one of the most successful food chains in the world, and that is not due to lack of training!
If you weren’t in kitchens, what would you do?
I’d be at the beach. Who wouldn’t be?!
What industry figure do you most admire, and why?
There are a lot of chefs I admire, but I must say I take most of my inspiration from the produce and the feeling food can create.
What’s your pet hate in the kitchen?
Ego and gender bias.
What’s the oddest thing a customer has said to you?
There have been too many weird things and working in hospitality opens you up to meeting the strangest people with the most ridiculous requests – things you didn’t think would exist. Thank goodness I don’t store them all away in my brain as the list is endless! The most recent one that comes to mind is a request for an omelette without eggs – seriously…
Sum up your cooking style in a single sentence…
Australian!
What’s the worst review you’ve ever had?
Review? I haven’t had any personal reviews that I’m aware of… yet!
What advice would you give someone starting out in the industry?
Confidence is key. Fake it until you are it. Be friendly, say good morning and good evening to your team. be super eager to learn – go the extra mile as it does pay off in the end. If you’re not passionate, find it elsewhere and go for it. Don’t let the egos in the industry get to you and find a great mentor!
Which single item of kitchen equipment could you not live without?
It’s a cop-out but I’m saying Microplane’s kitchen range – their utensils are EVERYTHING.
What would you choose to eat for your last meal?
Beans on toast - or BEENZON as we say in my household! 200g of cheese and tabasco on top is essential. BEENZON never fails.
À la carte or tasting menu?
À la carte.
What’s the best meal you’ve ever had in a restaurant?
I’ve had some outstanding food in Greece. I can’t remember where, but seafood and simplicity wins.
What’s your favourite fast food joint?
Hungry Jacks, or as it’s called in the UK, Burger King - for one item and one item only. The Whopper with cheese. The rest of the menu doesn’t exist for me. There’s just something about that flame grilled patty and raw onion that just gets me… but you have to be lucky though because three out of five times it can be horrific. Haha!
What’s the dish you wish you’d thought of?
Eggs benedict – it just doesn’t get more famous than that.
MasterChef or Great British Menu?
MasterChef.
What’s the most overrated food?
Caviar.
You’re restaurant dictator for a day – what would you ban?
Dirty fingernails and bad attitudes!
Who would your dream dinner party guests be?
My family. I don’t see them often.
What’s your earliest food memory?
Making pizza from scratch with my grandma in New Zealand when I was about 11.
TikTok or Instagram?
Don’t even compare them! Clue – it’s not TikTok…
What’s the closest you’ve ever come to death?
Could be two times - either when I was getting my sky diving licence, and jumping out of planes constantly... because I guess one wrong move could result in death. However, even worse - I was living alone in a studio flat in Maida Vale and one time, I got so sick with gastro that I lost total vision and the whole world was spinning around me. I was so, so, SO sick I couldn’t stand up. I called the emergency and they said it would be four hours. I thought, well. This is it. However, I somehow lived to tell the tale!
Where do you go when you want to let your hair down?
In to nature.
What’s your tipple of choice?
Spicy marg all the way.
What’s your favourite food and drink pairing?
To be honest I very rarely drink anything other than water, and I don’t really do weird food combos.
What do you consider to be your signature dish?
EGGS!!!