Can A Menu Be Racist?
A canteen chef in America has found herself at the centre of a race row after serving up a soul food menu in celebration of Black History Month. Leslie Calhoun’s…
El Bulli's Not Quite Dead…
I’ve never quite understood the fuss on Twitter about El Bulli closing – from foodies with no chance of ever eating there. When chef genius Ferran Adria announced he was…
Old Cheffing Wounds Never Heal
My favourite anecdote about Gordon Ramsay (no, not the one about him being cautioned for gross indecency in a Tube station toilet) was when he was working at Michel Roux…
Masterchef & The Call Of The Onions
I’ve been watching this year’s Masterchef final with a tad more enthusiasm than normal. Not so much googly-eyed Alex and his wonderful use of offal and, yawn, molecular gastronomy. He’s…
Chef Dies After Working 100-Hour Weeks
I’ve blogged a lot about how hard cheffing is and how much respect I’ve got for the poor souls who beaver away doing 18-hour days in Michelin restaurants, often without…
From Keith Floyd To Rick Stein
Before I start, I should explain why I’m writing this blog. Two years ago, something strange happened to me. There was no epiphany moment involving oysters and swords, or indeed…
The Seafood Restaurant
Rick Stein’s PA phoned the next day, and I drove down the M4 for a week’s work experience at his Seafood Restaurant in Padstow. I rented a room within walking…
Is There A Chilli In The House?
I took a deep breath and walked in the restaurant, wondering what the hell lay ahead. I gave my name at reception, and was told to wait in the conservatory…
Why Didn’t You Do The Cornish Pasties?
It was all going well. I’d have an early night, get up at 5am; shower, shave, and drive up to Rick Stein’s industrial unit for a day learning about Cornish…
Celebrity Chef Enters Kitchen Shock
It seemed absurd to me, yet on the outside – in the media world – Rick Stein appeared quite a nervous, hunched up figure. Quiet and deferential. But he grew…