JLife meets the top chefs from across Yorkshire to discover some lesser known facts about the creators of some of our favourite dishes.
- Name: Craig Atchinson
- Occupation: Head Chef – The Grand Hotel & Spa, York
- Place of birth: Easington, County Durham.
- Qualifications: City & Guilds NVQ level 1 and 2 Catering and Hospitality, Food Hygiene Certificate, EMFEC Modern Cookery Certificate, First Year Restaurant Award for Best Student, Wine and Spirits Education Trust Certificate, City & Guilds Communication Skills, First Aid at Work certificate, City & Guilds Leadership & Management (Skills for Managers Level 3).
- Career duration: 16 years.
- Career highlight: Achieving three AA Rosettes and a Rising Michelin Star as Senior Sous Chef at Cotswold House. Retaining three AA Rosettes as Head Chef at Swinton Park, Masham. Opening the Talbot Hotel alongside James Martin and being involved in its success.
- Favourite dish: My favourite dish at the moment is our beef tartare dish. It’s bound in black garlic purée, served with confit egg yolk, charred cumber, pickled shallots and crispy beef tendons.
- Favourite celebrity chef: René Redzepi.
- Favourite Twitter follower: Kenny Atkinson.
- Daily mantra: Treat every diner as if they are royalty; serve them only the very best as that is what everyone deserves.
- Hobbies: Having three children takes up most of my free time but I love having a camera close by, whether it’s a family photo or a new dish on the menu, photography is a big passion in my life.
- Dream job: Without sounding corny, I think my current role at The Grand Hotel & Spa, York is as close as I will get (although some green pastures would be nice). I enjoy the challenges and it’s a pleasure to be involved in such a prestigious property, working with like-minded individuals.
- Name: Francisco Martinez
- Occupation: Executive Chef – Fazenda, Leeds
- Place of birth: Alicante, Spain.
- Qualifications: Cooking and Management Degree, Tourist Centre of Alicante. Apprenticeship in ‘El Bulli’ 2002, Roses, Spain.
- Career duration: 16 years.
- Career highlight: I believe still to come.
- Favourite dish: Pad Thai from a street food stall.
- Favourite celebrity chef: Quique Dacosta, three Michelin stars from Alicante.
- Favourite Twitter follower: I don’t have a Twitter profile.
- Daily mantra: Do what you can, where you are, with what you have.
- Hobbies: I enjoy dining out and cooking for friends.
- Dream job: I am very happy right now, but I always had in mind a try in a huge casino/ hotel in Las Vegas.
- Name: Chris Ireland
- Occupation: Executive Head Chef – Leeds Marriott Hotel
- Place of birth: Stockport.
- Qualifications: NVQ Food Preparation and Cooking.
- Career duration: 20 years.
- Career highlight: Cooking in Pakistan for Marriott and the British High Commission.
- Favourite dish: Classic British fish and chips.
- Favourite celebrity chef: Marco Pierre White.
- Favourite Twitter follower: epicurious.
- Daily mantra: Your attitude determines your direction.
- Hobbies: Marathon running time permitting.
- Dream job: I have my dream job – I work with a great team, cooking with fantastic local ingredients, serving both local and world travellers and training and influencing chefs of the future.
- Name: Renato Venezuela
- Occupation: Joint Head Chef – Bulgogi Grill, Leeds
- Place of birth: Philippines.
- Qualifications: HRA.
- Career duration: 10 years.
- Career highlight: Joining Bulgogi Grill/ working Beni Hana London for six years.
- Favourite dish: Sushi and sashimi.
- Favourite celebrity chef: Jiro Ono.
- Daily mantra: To smile and impact somebody’s day positively.
- Hobbies: Basketball.
- Dream job: I have it – chef!