The chef from Hell
It has been pointed out to me, by my editor that I have written very little about myself,
It is not a task I particularly relish. How can I make what I do interesting it only seems fairly normal even mundane to me ,but perhaps to others maybe It may seem more interesting ?
I started my career not in writing, “you can probably tell” but in the kitchens of a local hotel in Eastbourne as an apprentice, I worked for three years here or as it happened just enough time to get my college qualifications quit my job and join the merchant navy.
A year was spent at sea traveling up and down the coast of South Africa working hard and drinking harder, such was the life of a sea bound cook.
This lifestyle was not for me in the long term so it was back to land.
"A grand place to be as the ground did not move quite so much".
London was a strong lure and my first job was at the royal Lancaster hotel near Hyde park , even with my early involvement in their kitchens the hotel still remains open to this day.
The catering industry is rife with the poaching of good staff, as they are always in demand. I was whisked away to join a new restaurant called Langans Brasserie which became a legend in London mostly for its outrageous owner Peter, throwing out customers by the score insulting people including celebrities and remaining drunk on champagne at all times,they were some of his most admirable achievements, some of the others will remain unsaid.
He eventually met his untimely demise by his own hand, covering himself in petrol while having an argument with his wife and then lighting a match, maybe just for effect ?.
I could go on about the jobs but they are numerous as is the way with chefs, drinking in knowledge as they go plagiarizing their mentors for techniques and recipes on their way as of course I did.
A pattern was emerging I seemed to be following again and this time to Thomas de Quincy which was owned by the two outgoing managers from Langans ,also headed up by Alan Bird as head chef and myself as second.
I was 18 years old and had managed to attain a senior position in what was to become one of London’s most respected restaurants.
The chef the flawed genius that he was, liked a drink, but did not know how to stop when he was having fun, which as you can imagine caused problems not only for him but me who endlessly carried the can.
The strain sent me scuttling for cover, back to Eastbourne remaining there happy in obscurity for a year or so.
I have been a life long biker as was my father ,mother and grandfather my mother even toured wales with her mother as pillion passenger.
I have owned 40 or so bikes in my my time and have always been a fan of the chopper or custom bike ,I have always swam my own way sometimes much to the disappointment of others I am just stubborn and opinionated even if I am wrong!
So there has certainly been what could be called some major style mistakes.
Harleys have always been my first love even from a very young age while still at school in the 60s all I could do was stare at American bike magazines to young to ride and too poor also.
Finally in the nineties I bought one and set about changing it all! A slow process, well three years to be precise, as the bike was off the road I spent my time riding a donated 125 cc Yamaha.
Finally finished, luck did not deal me a good hand I lost my job and could not afford to keep the bike so almost as it was completed it was gone. The long affair with BMW started here, quirky and character full but the lazy throb of a v twin was missing so for my 50th birthday I searched out a custom builder who could make something for me totally different from the fat tyred and stretched bikes that were a feature of the American tv shows.
After a long search it came down to only one Fred (Krugger) Bertrand of Belgium .
Old style bikes with a modern heart.
This was a deal made iall the sweeter as soon as I had commissioned the project I was told that he had been chosen by S&S cycle to build a bike for their 50th anniversary celebrations.
A new engine, a Panhead would be dispatched to Fred for use in my bike with one of the special anniversary engine numbers between 1958-2008.
So I was over the moon.
I have been a life long biker as was my father ,mother and grandfather my mother even toured wales with her mother as pillion passenger.
I have owned 40 or so bikes in my my time and have always been a fan of the chopper or custom bike ,I have always swam my own way sometimes much to the disappointment of others I am just stubborn and opinionated even if I am wrong!
So there has certainly been what could be called some major style mistakes.
Harleys have always been my first love even from a very young age while still at school in the 60s all I could do was stare at American bike magazines to young to ride and too poor also.
Finally in the nineties I bought one and set about changing it all! A slow process, well three years to be precise, as the bike was off the road I spent my time riding a donated 125 cc Yamaha.
Finally finished, luck did not deal me a good hand I lost my job and could not afford to keep the bike so almost as it was completed it was gone. The long affair with BMW started here, quirky and character full but the lazy throb of a v twin was missing so for my 50th birthday I searched out a custom builder who could make something for me totally different from the fat tyred and stretched bikes that were a feature of the American tv shows.
After a long search it came down to only one Fred (Krugger) Bertrand of Belgium .
Old style bikes with a modern heart.
This was a deal made iall the sweeter as soon as I had commissioned the project I was told that he had been chosen by S&S cycle to build a bike for their 50th anniversary celebrations.
A new engine, a Panhead would be dispatched to Fred for use in my bike with one of the special anniversary engine numbers between 1958-2008.
So I was over the moon.
I had been working at the Ginger Pig for Eight years now making pies and pates sausages, But I am now engaged in a new project with friends .A Cena a Italian family restaurant In richmond has been there for around eight years and they have decided to expand to open a food store where I will be cooking so anther departure from my original course I like change and one can not stay in the same place too long stagnation in the culinary world is a route to disaster , opening 2010 watch this space...........
My Passion for Japan is a long standing one, as a child the samurai and the history of Japan were brought together in the TV series of shogun I was hooked, it was not until much later on that I traveled to Japan, I have returned many times 16 to date driven by food and people Sake and culture.
I will continue to do so, as soon as I am home I begin to miss it.
And begin to plan my next trip. As an aside why does all the western world continue to compile the top 50 restaurants in the world but they are never in Japan, as far as I am concerned they are all there!
As for writing for Mr Partner I will continue to do so with great enthusiasm and I hope the Japanese public enjoy reading as much as I enjoy writing.