Chefs

Some of the chefs of restaurants featured on this site have been kind enough to give me exclusive interviews.  See below to get insight into the men and women behind the stoves.

	Chef Name Aiden Byrne Aiden was the head chef at Michelin-starred Tom Aikens before moving to the Dorchestsr, where he produced some high class meals. He now runs his own restaurant, The Church Green in Cheshire. Aimo Moroni Aimo Moroni is chef/patron of the long established Il Luogo di Aimo e Nadia in Milan, which currently has two Michelin stars. Alexandre Bourdas Alexandre is the chef/patron of Sa Qua Na in Honfleur, which gained a Michelin star within months of opening, then a second star the following year. He is one of the most talented cooks in France. Alfonso Iaccarino Alfonso Iaccarino is head chef of Don Alfonso 1890, an iconic restaurant on the Amalfi coast. Much of the produce used in the restaurant is grown on a nearby farm owned by the family. Andrew McCleish Head chef for over a decade at Michelin-starred Chapter One in Farnborough Antonin Bonnet Antonin Bonnet is head chef of the Greenhouse, whose Mayfair news premises have for many years retained a Michelin star. Benoit Violier Benoit is the head chef of 3 star Michelin restaurant Hotel de Ville in Crissier. Bjorn and Daniel Bjorn and Daniel (pictured) are the joint head chefs of the two Michelin star restaurant that bears their names, situated in the pretty old town of Stockholm. Brett Graham Brett Graham is the chef/patron of The Ledbury, which has risen in London's culinary ranks and now has a second Michelin star. He is also part owner of the gastropub The Harwood Arms, which itself gained a Michelin star. Bruce Poole Bruce Poole is head chef of Chez Bruce, the best restaurant in south London and one which in 2007 was voted London's favourite restaurant in the annual Hardens Guide poll. Bryan Webb Bryan Webb is chef/patron of the Michelin starred Tyddyn Llan in north Wales, after establishing his reputation at Hilaire in London in the 1990s. Chistophe Santaigne Chistophe is head chef of the Alain Ducasse flagship restaurant Plaza Athenee in Paris, a 3 star Michelin restaurant. Christian Bau Gifted 3 star chef cooking in Germany near the Luxembourg border. I had dazzling food there in 2008, one of my best ever 3 star meals. Claus-Peter Lumpp Claus-Peter Lumpp is head chef of the 3 Michelin star Bareiss, a lovely restaurant tucked away in a beautiful corner of the Black Forest. Daniel Humm Daniel Humm is head chef of Eleven Madison Park in New York, one of the very few New York restaurants to have a four star review in the New York Times. Danny Grant Danny Grant is head chef of RIA, the main restaurant at the excellent Elysian hotel in Chicago. RIA was awarded two Michelin stars in Michelin's inaugural guide to Chicago. David Kinch David Kinch is chef and owner of Manresa in Silicon Valley, awarded two Michelin stars Dominic Chapman Dominic Chapman is head chef at the Royal Oak, a pub near Maidenhead which has achieved a Michelin star for its simple yet beautifully executed British food. Francis Brennan Francis Brennan is the head chef at L20, one of two restaurants granted three stars by Michelin in their inaugural Chicago edition. Grant Achatz Grant Achatz is chef/owner of Alinea, a restaurant at the cutting edge of modern cooking in Chicago. Thanks to Lara Kastner for permission to use her portrait of Mr Achatz. Gunther Hubrechson Gunther's is one of the top restaurants in Singapore, with classical French food. Guy Savoy Guy Savoy is one of the iconic chefs of France. Heinz Beck Heinz Beck is the chef at the 3 star restaurant in Rome: Pergola. Helmut Thieltges Helmut Thieltges is chef/patron, a 3 star Michelin restaurant in Germany. For me it is one of the finest restaurants in the world, with a remarkable level of consistency in its cooking. Jason Atherton Jason Atherton is chef/patron of Pollen Street Social. He was previously head chaf at the highly successful Maze, and led the kitchen at Verre in Dubai. Jean-Christophe Ansanay-Alex Jean-Christophe has for some time been a highly respected two Michelin star chef in Lyon, and in 2008/2009 brought his talents to London with Ambassade de l'Ile. He has now returned to Lyon to concentrate on his original restaurant. Joachim Wissler Joachim Wissler is the chef of the 3 star Michelin Vendome in Bergish Gladbach. I am very impressed with the 3 star places in Germany, which all reach a high standard. My favourite of all of these is Vendome. John Williams John Williams MBE is the head chef of the Ritz Hotel in London. The grand dining room of the Ritz showcases the classical cooking that John has refined in recent years. Jun Tanaka Jun Tanaka is the talented chef at Pearl in Holborn. He has had a long career in some of the most prestigious kitchens in London, and is a regular on TV these days. Lionel Rigolet Lionel Rigolet is the head chef at Comme Chez Soi, the iconic restaurant in Brussels with a history dating back to 1926. Luisa Vallazza Luisa Vallazza is that rarity, a female 3 star chef (not so rare in Italy in fact, where there were three in 2007). Al Sorriso combines stunning ingredients with flawless technique, while the welcome there is very genuine. Marc Haeberlin Marc Haeberlin is head chef of the Auberge de l'Ile, one of the prettiest three-star restaurants, on the bank of a river in a village in Alsace. Mark Best Mark Best is the chef/owner of Marque, a restaurant in Sydney serving cutting edge cuisine. Martin Burge Martin Burge is head chef of Whatley Manor, which in 2009 received its second Michelin star. Nestling in the Cotswold countryside, this thoroughly deserves its second star based on my experience. Massimiliano Alajmo Massimiliano Alajmo is the youngest chef ever to have been awarded three Michelin stars. Massimo Bottura Massimo Bottura is chef/patron of Osteria Francescana, which in 2012 was awarded its third Michelin star. His cooking applies modern techniques to tradiional Italian cooking. Michael Caines Michael Caines is head chef of two-star Michelin restaurant Gidleigh Park, prettily set on the edge of Dartmoor in Devon. Michael Hoffmann Michael Hoffmann is chef/patron of Margaux in Berlin, which he runs with his wife Kathrin. He has earned a Michelin star for Margaux and has a passion for vegetables. Michel Guerard Michel Guerard is one of the most famous cooks in France, having three Michelin stars for decades and being the prime influence of nouvelle cuisine. His cooking has a simplicity that I admire greatly. Michel Troisgros Michel Troisgros is chef/patron of Troisgros, a 3 star Michelin restaurant in France with a great history. Troisgros was founded in 1930, and three generations of the same family have cooked at the restaurant. It has held three Michelin stars since 1968. Omno Kokmeijer Omno is head chef of the Ciel Bleu, which in 2009 was the only two star restaurant in Amsterdam. Phil Howard Phil Howard is chef and owner of The Square, which has long been one of London's top restaurants, holding two Michelin stars in 2009. Shane Osborn Shane is the Australian two star Michelin chef at Pied a Terre. He was sous chef there when Tom Aikens left but regained the two stars that the restaurant had originally earned by 2003, and has kept them ever since. Shannon Bennett Shannon is executive chef of Vue de Monde, regarded by many as the best restaurant in Melbourne. He trained classically yet is also influenced by the latest cooking trends, and has a deep interest in ingredients. Shaun Hill Shaun Hill is head chef of The Walnut Tree in Wales, cooking there after a distinguished career in which he, amongst other things, established the reputation of Gidleigh Park. Stephen Harris Stephen Harris is chef/patron of The Sportsman in Kent, which has some of the most exciting food in the UK and has a well deserved Michelin star. Steve Terry Steve Terry is head chef of The Hardwick in Wales, settling there after a distinguished career in London kicthens, including the legendary Harveys. Stevey Williams Stevey Williams is head chef of the Harwood Arms, the gastropub in Fulham that is leading the way in London in this genre of serious food in a pub setting. Sven Elverfeld Sven Elverfeld has been head chef at Aqua for nine years, which in 2009 was awarded its third Michelin star. Located in the unlikely setting of Wolfburg, the meal that I had at Aqua was very fine indeed. The restaurant also currently gets 19/20 in the Gault Millau. Tetsuya Chef/patron of Tetsuya in Sydney and also the excellent Waku Ghin in Singapore, Tetsuya has a global reputation for his blending of Japanese and French cooking with Australian produce. Thomas Buhner Thomas is owner and head chef of La Vie in Osnabruck, awarded three Michelin stars in the 2012 Guide. Tom Aikens Tom Aikens shot to fame when he became the youngest chef to earn two Michelin stars at Pied a Terre. He now has his own Michelin-starred establishment Tom Aikens and a highly successful bistro Tom’s Kitchen. He has just launched Tom's Place, an upmarket take on fish and chips.