THE WORD: FROM THE CHEFS
CHEF PROPRIETOR AT EARLE RESTAURANT,
HALE, CHESHIRE AND GREENS, WEST DIDSBURY, MANCHESTER Simon Rimmer - An accidental chef with a passion for greens ? I got into cooking accidentally. As a student I was always interested in food, and in the end my business partner (who was a Politics student at the time) and I decided to go for it ? simple as that. We took over a vegetarian café in an interesting area that was still studenty at the time, but on the way up, and decided to keep it vegetarian and build on the back of the possibilities that were there. We named it Greens and literally lived out of the restaurant, so we cooked what we liked, taking inspiration from international cuisines that did good meat-free dishes, Lebanese, Greek and Italian food, then going east, with Thai and South East Asian dishes. We never have and never will use meat substitutes. I originally studied textiles and am really excited by the visuals of life, whether I?m decorating the restaurant interior or plating up, at the restaurant or at home. Cooking at home is a totally different process to cooking at work - going from cooking for 200 to four with two young children brings its own challenges. We eat a lot of fish and vegetables, and I love a good roast. You can?t beat pork. Chops can be disappointing, but a good pork shoulder with gravy and lots of crackling is the meal of kings! 010 THE WORD: FROM THE CHEFS INOUTMAGAZINE.CO.UK
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Simon
CHEF PROPRIETOR AT THE MARSH CAT,
PARKGATE, WIRRAL Phil Williams - Flavours of the Americas ? Food in the Americas isn?t just about burgers and bagels ? I grew up in Belize watching my mother creating these wonderfully tasty Mexican and Caribbean recipes, which really was my first inspiration. I started training aged 20 in New Orleans where I watched and learnt off ?The French Quarters?, respected Creole chefs with an amazing understanding of flavours. Then I went for a total change of scenery, working as Head Chef in various restaurants in Disney World Florida, where I met my wife Jenny. After a while we decided to move back to England, where Jenny?s originally from, and we worked for a restaurant in Prestbury, Cheshire, where I developed some more classic European style cooking. Over 10 years ago, Jenny and I decided to run our own restaurant. We opened the The Marsh Cat Restaurant in Parkgate and have packed the menu with some innovative recipes from around the world, inspired by the amazing flavours I?ve been surrounded with. I love all types of food, my favourites are Thai and Mexican, but I also adore a home made steak and ale pie or fish and chips. Another thing I love is training up my own chefs, and am really proud that my own 26 year old son, Phil Jr, has now gone on to open his own restaurant with his partner Lucy in Menai Bridge!
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Phil
