What was your first industry job?
My first job was as a kitchen porter, aged 14.
If you weren’t in kitchens, what would you do?
I’d like to think I’d make a great detective.
What industry figure do you most admire, and why?
Lee Tiernan of Black Axe Mangal – just for his attitude to food.
What’s your pet hate in the kitchen?
When people use cling film on plastic containers when they could just use a lid.
What’s the oddest thing a customer has said to you?
I’ve had quite a few odd things said to me, but I’ve been told many times that I should get my heritage checked.
Sum up your cooking style in a single sentence…
Erratic.
What’s the worst review you’ve ever had?
A review from The Sunday Times. Really, it just made our team stronger!
What advice would you give someone starting out in the industry?
Not to glamorise the industry like they see so much of on TV these days.
Which single item of kitchen equipment could you not live without?
A sharp kitchen knife.
What would you choose to eat for your last meal?
I would have a whole tray of lasagne.
À la carte or tasting menu?
À la carte, all the way.
What’s the best meal you’ve ever had in a restaurant?
That’s so tough to answer, as it’s not always the full meal – it’s bits from lots of different restaurants – but I would say Black Axe Mangal again.
What’s your favourite fast food joint?
It’s between Domino’s and Black Bear.
What’s the dish you wish you’d thought of?
The mussel and ’nduja dish at Manteca.
MasterChef or Great British Menu?
As I’ve been on it, I would say Great British Menu.
What’s the most overrated food?
This is hard to say! I don’t think I have one, but then again I haven’t tried everything.
You’re restaurant dictator for a day – what would you ban?
I would ban the word ‘heard’! [Please confirm intended wording.]
Who would your dream dinner party guests be?
Anthony Bourdain.
What’s your earliest food memory?
One of the earliest would have to be a prawn cocktail served in half an avocado.
TikTok or Instagram?
Instagram.
What’s the closest you’ve ever come to death?
There have been a couple of times, but the one that sticks in my head is when I was in a car crash.
Where do you go when you want to let your hair down?
Whole Beast in Brixton – good food, good drinks and hanging out with my mates.
What’s your tipple of choice?
Spicy margarita or a good whisky.
What’s your favourite food and drink pairing (the more obscure, the better)?
Whisky and ice cream – the weirder the pairing, the better.
What do you consider to be your signature dish?
Probably the omelette we have on the menu right now at Appalachia!