What are the important thing priorities for a chef within the run-up to opening a brand new restaurant?
For me, it’s important to obviously perceive who we’re as a restaurant, together with who we wish to be. As soon as that is understood, it instantly influences our identification and delicacies, shaping our general course. Furthermore, as soon as that’s determined, a number of key components will contribute to bringing this imaginative and prescient to life. These components embody choosing the best plateware, selecting the proper crockery and dealing with top-quality suppliers and producers. As well as, we should be sure that we supply the most effective elements and craft a menu tailor-made to our potential diners’ preferences. In the end, tying all these components collectively requires constructing a stable, dependable crew to execute all the pieces seamlessly.
How do you construct an environment friendly kitchen crew?
When constructing a crew, I focus much less on technical expertise and expertise, although they nonetheless play an essential function. Nevertheless, I prioritize who they’re as people and the way nicely they may match into the crew dynamic. Whereas technical expertise could be taught, that duty lies with me and my sous cooks, so we focus extra on hiring individuals with optimistic attitudes. Moreover, we search for candidates with nice personalities, a real need to study, and the ambition to be a part of one thing particular. In the end, there may be at all times room for everybody to succeed inside my crew.
How do you strategy menu growth for a brand new restaurant?
Menu growth is probably essentially the most gratifying side of my job; it’s actually my favourite pastime, with out query. I like drawing inspiration from basic dishes, as classics stay timeless for a purpose, usually for his or her steadiness. Whereas we’re not aiming to reinvent the wheel, we’re centered on placing a contemporary spin on it. At The Spaniel, I usually mirror on my childhood for inspiration, bringing acquainted flavors again in a brand new but comforting method. This permits me to evoke a way of nostalgia and luxury, making certain the flavors are each acquainted and unexpectedly stunning for our company.
What are your plans for the restaurant?
My plans for The Spaniel are easy: to create a restaurant that our company love and wish to return to. Our delicacies is trustworthy, reflecting nice British tradition and historical past whereas specializing in taste with none pretense. Moreover, the crew has curated an unbelievable drinks record that may transport you straight to London. All the expertise is wrapped up in a shocking setting, designed to evoke the sensation of a house away from house. By way of this, we intention to create one thing actually particular, providing our company an expertise they’ll take pleasure in for a few years to return.
