FOOD + DRINK
MEET THE CHEF :
ALLISTER BARSBY
Hide and Fox , Saltwood , nr Hythe
What led to you becoming a chef ?
My very first part-time job was washing pots at Wheelers Oyster Bar in Whitstable . The head chef Mark got me doing small kitchen jobs like making hollandaise sauce , quiches and crème brûlées . This is what got me interested in cooking and wanting to become a chef . I did three days work experience at Reads in Faversham while at school . It inspired me even more and after a few months I quit school to start full time work as a chef at 17 years of age .
Where did you train ?
I didn ’ t go to college ; my basic training was at Reads because I started almost as an apprentice . It was a great foundation for me and after two years there I moved out and down to Devon to work at two Michelinstarred Gidleigh Park . I spent eight years working for Michael Caines in total . He engrained discipline , seasoning and seasonality into my head . He is a hard task master and I couldn ’ t have had better training , working alongside such an incredible chef .
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