What was your first industry job?
Apprenticeship at Le Manoir aux Quat Saisons.
If you weren’t in kitchens, what would you do?
Orthopaedic surgeon.
What industry figure do you most admire, and why?
Raymond Blanc. He was very good to me during my time there, he suggested a road map for my career, and his passion, dedication, and knowledge were inspiring.
What’s your pet hate in the kitchen?
Waste.
What’s the oddest thing a customer has said to you?
Are you single?
Sum up your cooking style in a single sentence…
Minimalist.
What’s the worst review you’ve ever had?
Not really had one, but when Grace Dent in The Guardian reviewed a restaurant I had and described it as ‘gigantically ambitious and pointedly bonkers’ I was worried. But it was a great review.
What advice would you give someone starting out in the industry?
Treat your staff with respect.
Which single item of kitchen equipment could you not live without?
My Rowzer food processor.
What would you choose to eat for your last meal?
Cassoulet.
À la carte or tasting menu?
À la carte.
What’s the best meal you’ve ever had?
A meal at Alain Ducasse in Monaco.
What’s your favourite fast-food joint?
Five Guys.
What’s the dish you wish you’d thought of?
Rum baba.
MasterChef or Great British Menu?
MasterChef.
What’s the most overrated food?
Fast food.
You’re restaurant dictator for a day – what would you ban?
People arriving late.
Who would your dream dinner party guests be?
Winston Churchill, Ronnie Wood, Pierre Gagnaire, Steven Fry, Denzel Washington, and Ken Dodd.
What’s your earliest food memory?
Making cakes with my grandma.
TikTok or Instagram?
Instagram.
What’s the closest you’ve ever come to death?
I was once trapped in a service lift.
Where do you go when you want to let your hair down?
Any Irish bar.
What’s your tipple of choice?
Bollinger.
What’s your favourite food and drink pairing?
Champagne and tart aux fraises.
What do you consider to be your signature dish?
Salted white chocolate, almond sorbet, crumble , goat’s milk crisp.
What’s your guilty pleasure?
Maltesers.