Profiles

How I Got Here: Amy Corbin

09-Aug-2022 By Joe Lutrario

The co-founder of Peckham's Kudu mini-empire on juggling a young family with restaurants, the staffing crisis and her father and mentor Chris Corbin.

How I Got Here: Tomer Amedi

03-Aug-2022 By James McAllister

The chef and restaurateur who recently launched Levantine restaurant Pascor in London's Kensington on the sector's multi-sensory power, his love of Lego, and his view on the industry's staffing crisis.

Flash-grilled: Tom Tsappis

29-Jul-2022 By James McAllister

The head chef at Kiliecrankie House in Highland Perthshire, Scotland, on his favourite fast food burger, the importance of making time to eat and travel, and a decadent signature dish.

How I Got Here: Scott Hallsworth

26-Jul-2022 By James McAllister

The Australian chef and restaurateur, who previously ran Freak Scene in London's Soho and recently launched Double Dragon on Rosebery Avenue in Clerkenwell, on his colourful career.

Flash-grilled: Jake Leach

22-Jul-2022 By James McAllister

The Harwood Arms head chef on his career, what he'd be doing if he wasn't in kitchens, and childhood memories of fish and chips.

How I Got Here: André Cointreau

20-Jul-2022 By James McAllister

The CEO and president of Le Cordon Bleu on the French culinary school's recently-launched London restaurant CORD, its global influence, and the rewards of working in hospitality.

Spencer Metzger: “We’re not stiff and old hat as people sometimes assume”

18-Jul-2022 By James McAllister

The Ritz head chef, who was named Chef to Watch at this year's Estrella Damm National Restaurant Awards, on his future plans and why mastering classic French cooking techniques still matters.

Flash-grilled: Henrik Ritzén

15-Jul-2022 By James McAllister

The Swedish chef, who runs the stove at the Double Red Duke in the Cotswolds, on making his peace with a bad review, Thomas Keller, and memories of Racine.

How I Got Here: Henry Ayers

13-Jul-2022 By James McAllister

The co-founder and director of wholesale at The Gentlemen Baristas, which has just launched its 11th coffee house in London, on how he developed a successful coffee wholesale business.

Flash-grilled: Manu Buffara

08-Jul-2022 By James McAllister

The internationally-acclaimed Brazilian chef, who recently came to the UK to run a residency at Amazonico London, tells us about her career to date.

How I Got Here: Jack Macrae

06-Jul-2022 By James McAllister

The co-founder and head chef of cult sandwich brand Mondo Sando, which has recently launched a long-term residency at The White Horse in London's Peckham, discusses his career to date.

Uncorked: Josh Castle

06-Jul-2022 By Joe Lutrario

Noble Rot’s group head sommelier on swapping out Aussie Shiraz for Côte-Rôtie and the joys of venerable NV Champagne.

Flash-grilled: Ben Hobson

01-Jul-2022 By James McAllister

The head chef at Bob Bob Ricard City in London on a troubling Michelin memory, what he'd be doing if he wasn't in kitchens, and his dream dinner party guests.

Uncorked: Fernando Cubas

30-Jun-2022 By Joe Lutrario

The head sommelier at Theo Randall at the InterContinental on his Italy-focused list, Trentino-based producer Elisabetta Foradori and his love of Sicilian wines.

Cartmel king: Chef of the Year Simon Rogan

29-Jun-2022 By BigHospitality

L'Enclume's promotion to three-star status this year was just one of a number of reasons why Simon Rogan was named Chef of the Year at the Estrella Damm National Restaurant Awards 2022.

How I Got Here: Tom Stock

27-Jun-2022 By James McAllister

The co-founder of Burger & Beyond, which has just launched a huge 119-cover site in London's Soho, on swapping a career in construction for one in restaurants.

Akwasi Brenya-Mensa: “African food is not a trend”

24-Jun-2022 By Joe Lutrario

The chef patron of upcoming Southwark restaurant Tatale on plantain, Black Lives Matter and the problem with the term ‘Pan-African’.

Flash-grilled: Emilia Strazzanti

24-Jun-2022 By James McAllister

The chef and co-founder of Sicilian ingredient supplier, meal kit and supper club brand Strazzanti on her career, from training at culinary school at 16 to running her own business.

Uncorked: Clara Rubin

23-Jun-2022 By Joe Lutrario

The group wine manager at Hawksmoor on her passion for wine education and the steak-focused group’s ‘guest first’ mindset.

How I Got Here: Rosalind Rathouse

22-Jun-2022 By James McAllister

The South African-born founder of London’s Cookery School at Little Portland Street on realising her dream of becoming a cook, the need to treat staff fairly, and sustainability.

Flash-grilled: Tom De Keyser

17-Jun-2022 By James McAllister

The Hand and Flowers head chef tells us what his favourite food and drink pairing is, what he'd do if he wasn't in kitchens, and his top restaurant meals.

How I Got Here Jeremy Ford-Young

15-Jun-2022 By James McAllister

The co-founder of plant-based fast-food brand BVRGER, which launched in 2020 and now has two sites in the capital, on building his business in the midst of the pandemic.

Flash-grilled: James Harrison

13-Jun-2022 By James McAllister

The head chef at The Engine Rooms on the Great North Road in London's Finchley on his first industry job, favorite food and drink pairing, and what his signature dish is.

How I Got Here: Phil Peters

07-Jun-2022 By James McAllister

The MD of Neapolitan pizza group Happy Face Pizza, which recently launched its third London restaurant, on his best and worst business decisions, and how he would change the industry.

Flash-grilled: Jessica Préalpato

06-Jun-2022 By James McAllister

The former World’s Best Pastry Chef, who recently collaborated with The Carlton Tower Jumeirah in London's Knightsbridge to create a 'unique afternoon tea experience', tells us about her career.

How I Got Here: Civan Er

31-May-2022 By James McAllister

The Turkish-born chef behind Yeni in London's Soho on what drew him to restaurants, the importance of travel, and why he wants to abolish allocated time slots.

pub & bar

Flash-grilled: Giulia Cuccurullo

27-May-2022 By James McAllister

The Italian-born head bartender at Artesian in The Langham, London, which recently unveiled a new cocktail list inspired by 'the idea of duality', tells us about her career.

Uncorked: Vanessa Majella Stolz

26-May-2022 By Joe Lutrario

The somm at Northumberland restaurant Pine on Coravin mishaps, sexist wine service and the joys of British wine.

How I Got Here: Liz Down

20-May-2022 By James McAllister

The co-founder of Black Bear Burger, which is about to launch its second sit down restaurant on Exmouth Market in Clerkenwell, on how she and her husband built their business.

Flash-grilled: Kris Yenbamroong

20-May-2022 By James McAllister

The LA-based chef behind Night + Market, who is overseeing the menu for Chet’s that has just launched at Rondo La Cave in London's Holborn, tell us about his career.

Uncorked: Giacomo Recchia

19-May-2022 By Joe Lutrario

The Puglia-born senior sommelier at Bob Bob Ricard City on catching the wine bug in Languedoc-Roussillon, Domaine Daniel-Etienne Defaix and presiding over one of the best value wine lists in the capital.

How I Got Here: Jamie Barber

18-May-2022 By James McAllister

The restaurateur and founder of the London-based Hush Collection, which operates the Haché and Cabana brands, on the importance of location, challenging industry perceptions and gatecrashing Kylie Minogue's birthday party.

Flash-grilled: Sean Garrett

13-May-2022 By James McAllister

The head chef at The Pig & Butcher pub in Islington on where to get the best chicken wings in west London, and a dangerous scuba diving escapade in Mexico.

Uncorked: Thamara Mbomyo

12-May-2022 By Joe Lutrario

The wine and spirits sommelier at Southwark Latin American restaurant Paladar on the importance of temperature and showcasing the diversity of Latin American wines and spirits.

How I Got Here: Patricia Michelson

11-May-2022 By James McAllister

The founder of cheese-focused retailer and café La Fromagerie, which has sites in London's Highbury, Marylebone and Bloomsbury, on how a disastrous skiing day led her to launch her business.

Flash-grilled: Matt Weedon

06-May-2022 By BigHospitality

The head chef at The Feathered Nest in the Cotswolds reveals which quartet he'd have cook him his last meal and his early food memories of his nan's sandwiches.

Uncorked: Sam Weatherill

05-May-2022 By Joe Lutrario

The restaurant manager (and wine guru) at Hove’s Etch on the joys of battered oysters with Vecchio Samperi and being mistaken for his boss.

How I Got Here: Zorawar Kalra

04-May-2022 By James McAllister

The Indian entrepreneur behind the Massive Restaurants group and founder of Farzi Café on London's Haymarket tells us about his career.

Flash-grilled: Simon Shand

29-Apr-2022 By James McAllister

The head chef of the Michelin-starred Leroy in London's Shoreditch on working as a fish monger, his dream dinner party guests, and what he'd do if he wasn't in kitchens.

Uncorked: Matilda Tsappis

28-Apr-2022 By Joe Lutrario

One half of the duo behind Scotland's Killiecrankie House on championing Chinese wine, peculiar sakes and matching Champagne with Co-op salt and vinegar crisps.

Flash-grilled: Ana Ortiz

21-Apr-2022 By James McAllister

The Galapagos-born chef director at the newly-launched The Mess restaurant at Messums Wiltshire on the delights of fritada, her earliest food memory, and the importance of a work life balance.

How I Got Here: Valentina Fois

21-Apr-2022 By James McAllister

The Italian-born chef and founder of London-based vegan cafe and bakery Lele's, who's currently competing on Gordon Ramsay's Future Food Stars, on her career in hospitality.

Uncorked: Valentin Mouillard

21-Apr-2022 By Joe Lutrario

The head sommelier at Simon Rogan's flagship L'Enclume on being the grandson of a winemaker in Jura, Austrian natural winemaker Johannes Zillinger and why muscadet needs to be reappraised.

How I Got Here: Richard Thacker

20-Apr-2022 By James McAllister

The Wing Fest founder, who previously led the Randy's Wing Bar brand, on leaving restaurants to run food festivals full time, and the challenges of commercial renting in London.

Flash-grilled: Giovann Attard

14-Apr-2022 By James McAllister

The newly-promoted executive head chef at Norma in London's Fitzrovia on his love of gardening, early food memories with his grandparents, and the challenge of working in restaurants

pub & bar

How I Got Here: Mike Davies

13-Apr-2022 By James McAllister

The London-based chef director behind The Camberwell Arms and Mike's Peckham on the importance of compromise, championing 'real hospitality', and the meditative qualities of deadlifting.

Flash-grilled: Sarah Hayward

08-Apr-2022 By James McAllister

The head chef at Tom Kerridge's The Coach in Marlow on admiration for her boss, a love of Wagamamas and overly green peas.

How I Got Here: Marcello Bernardi

06-Apr-2022 By James McAllister

The restaurateur behind The Italian Greyhound in London's Marylebone on rebranding his business, changing bad attitudes within the industry, and what makes hospitality such a special sector to work in.

Flash-grilled: Mark Donald

01-Apr-2022 By James McAllister

The executive chef at The Glenturret Lalique restaurant in Crieff on his respect for Albert Adrià, the culinary status of sea urchins, and his mum's lasagne.

Luke Selby: "We grow the most when we're forced to operate outside of our comfort zone"

01-Apr-2022 By Joe Lutrario

As the National Chef of Year competition opens for entries, we speak to a previous winner about the importance of cooking competitions and how chefs can ensure they give the best possible performance on the day.