Flash-grilled: Jonny Wright
What was your first industry job?
As soon as turned 16 I wanted a job, I didn’t see myself being a waiter and decided back of house was the place for me.
If you weren’t in kitchens, what would you do?
I would definitely be a farmer, I would love to be out in the fields growing loads of delicious vegetables.
What industry figure do you most admire, and why?
I have always looked up to various chefs in the industry. I’ve worked for some incredible chefs, the biggest influence in my life was Phil Carmichael, Jason Atherton and Gordon Ramsey.
What’s your pet hate in the kitchen?
Probably too many! Making sure you are on time is a big one and I hate it if someone doesn’t refill their seasoning trays at the end of the night!
Sum up your cooking style in a single sentence...
Simple, clean, and seasonal.
What’s the worst review you’ve ever had?
Someone reviewed The Spence [Gleneagles Townhouse's flagship restaurant] and they mentioned the Zabuton steak was chewy, so could have been a lot worse!
Which single item of kitchen equipment could you not live without?
A mini silicone spoonula, it’s like a kitchen utensil from heaven.
What would you choose to eat for your last meal?
I’m easy to please, there’s something satisfying about beautiful sourdough bread and salted butter, some boquerones and Perello olives, and to follow and sirloin steak and chips with a nice glass of red. Its so hard to choose, there’s too many options!
À la carte or tasting menu?
À la carte
What’s the best meal you’ve ever had in a restaurant?
Eleven Madison Park in New York, before it went vegan.
What’s your favourite fast food joint?
Five guys.
MasterChef or Great British Menu?
Great British Menu.
What’s the most overrated food?
For me, it’s got to be Lobster. I’d rather have a delicious big prawn.
Who would your dream dinner party guests be?
My desires would be to have dinner with my nearest and dearest friends and family.
What’s your earliest food memory?
Making cakes and scones with my mum in our family home, I always loved baking with my mum when I was younger.
Twitter or Instagram?
Instagram.
What’s the closest you’ve ever come to death?
I choked on a mint leaf when I was working in London at Berners Tavern, I’ve never been so scared in my whole life, I thought this is it, this is how I’m going to go, which would have been very embarrassing!
Where do you go when you want to let your hair down?
That depends, usually it would be with one my closest friends for a few negronis and that doesn’t matter where it is, or sometimes where it goes.
What’s your tipple of choice?
I love a negroni but I’m a sucker for beautiful wine too, which usually ends up costing me a little bit. As I’m Scottish, I feel a deep responsibility to enjoy whisky which I’m trying really hard to do and have recently stumbled across Armagnac which I really enjoyed.
What advice would you give someone starting out in the industry?
Keep your head down, stay committed and be loyal. Don’t jump around from job to job, stick with the choices you made to work somewhere and persevere throughout the good times and hardships, this will form stronger character. The habit of showing back up, when you commit, you don’t quit, you are a finisher.
