Stella’s Scoop

Bout time for a new podcast folks! On this week’s Scoop, Zac and I are introducing you to the sweetheart of the pastry, who knew from day dot that desserts were going to be her forte. Kelly Cullen is currently the head pastry chef at Allegra, in Stratford and has worked previously at other incredible restaurants like Cornerstone and Angler. Beginning her career in culinary training, she worked at...

From military bases to gyms to pubs and now to a bourbon bar, Ryan Sheehan has a plethora of stories up his sleeve. Growing up in Savannah, Georgia in the Deep South, Ryan has a passion for bourbon and his bar lies beneath Counter 71, a chef’s table restaurant in Shoreditch. Exploring bourbon, Ryan alongside Angela (his protege) has created a list of classic, historical and signature cocktails. On...

Bursting with energy, positivity and completely driven, you can tell how Anna Søgaard has become an alpha in the kitchen  Back in her school days, Anna wasn’t sure exactly which career path was right for her and she began by studying Communications in Denmark. However, after really thinking about what makes her tick she ventured into the food industry and completed four years of culinary study in...

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY! *Although the podcast states that today is National Women’s Day, it’s INTERNATIONAL Women’s Day so excuse my mistake!  Today we are celebrating fantastic female leadership throughout the food and hospitality industry. One woman in particular caught my eye, someone who is proving that progression and meaningful success are not the same for everyone. Another thing th...

Mangal II stands as a shining beacon of success within the growing London food scene. This restaurant is an iconic mixture of traditional and modern both in terms of its Turkish-inspired cuisine and its service. Mangal II was passed down to the current owner Ferhat Dirik, by his father and was originally quite a different concept.    Ferhat doesn’t shy away from the details and decision-making whi...

Kitchens sound like hell to some: the hours, the pressure, the heat. But for Diarmuid Goodwin cooking makes his head go quiet; he loves the serenity and stillness of mind that pure concentration brings.  Currently head chef at Sager and Wilde in Bethnal Green, Diarmuid grew up in Belfast before moving to London to work for Angela Hartnett at Cafe Murano. Following his passion to The Grain Store an...

Say hello to the *almost* new kid on the block, Ernesto Gabriel - the founder of EMBERS, a restaurant concept. Most of the podcasts so far have presented so-called “settled down” chefs with a restaurant, staff and fully-formed stories of hardship, struggle and success. Today we are learning about the grind to start a business endeavour.  Now, EMBERS is still in its infancy and awaiting a permanent...

Let me introduce you to Ryan Walker, the 23-year-old Head of Fermentation and R&D - one of the masterminds behind Silo's sustainable insurgence. Ryan is both crazily creative but also approaches cooking from a scientific standpoint so he's a chef and an alchemist. Hard to imagine anyone more perfect to achieve a spot on the 30 under 30 Code Hospitality Awards 2023. There were only two...

Upon meeting Andy Beynon, the chef-owner of Behind restaurant in London Fields, you can immediately understand how he finesses the amalgamation of “front of house” and “back of house”. Andy is driven and focused yet charming, and nerdy with a cracking sense of humour. It is clear why such an intimate and performative dining experience is worthy of 1 Michelin star, an award which he has retained si...

What a treat! A week ago, Zac and I had the pleasure of meeting Dan Fancett and learning about his phenomenal career history so far. We arrived at Fancett's Bistro in Cambridge, Zoom recorder in one hand and were quickly given a glass of fizz in the other. Dan and Zac have been friends since their Galvin La Chapelle days 14 years ago when they bonded over musicians like Dean Martin and Patsy Cline...

Scoop X ROGUES EPISODE THREE Let me introduce you to Iain Smith for the third instalment of the Scoop x Rogues podcast series. Iain has been cheffing for many years and met Zac when they were both in the early stage of their careers. Having travelled abroad for work to places like Australia and worked at establishments with Jason Atherton and the Galvin brothers, Iain now takes on a classy audienc...

Join me to meet Anna Williams, an entrepreneur within the hospitality industry who was an important part of the London restaurant Fallow’s launch, and previously worked as head pastry chef at Dinner by Heston Blumenthal. Anna is so inspiring, having had big dreams of becoming a chef in her teen years, she began working weekends at a restaurant in Kew Gardens whilst juggling school work. It became...

SCOOP X ROGUES  Series 1, Episode 2 As I continue to meet the successful and sweaty gems of the hospitality scene, today Zac and I headed to Stoke Newington, in North London. Specifically, we met at the Army and Navy pub to have a pint with Ben Marks, head chef at Perilla. Previously Ben worked at Noma in Copenhagen and The Square in London.  Ben opened Perilla in late 2016 with his friend Matt Em...

What do you think of when someone mentions British cuisine? Maybe you think of the Shepherd’s pie or bangers and mash that your mum used to make you shovel down after school. Well, think again. As the sea of (delicious) European, sharing small plates grows, some restaurants are redefining British cooking.  Head Chef of Anglo in Farringdon, Anthony Raffo is attempting to change our views on mainstr...

SCOOP X ROGUES  Series 1, Episode 1 - Lee Westcott Today’s pod marks the start of my collaboration with the head chef and co-owner of Rogues in Hackney Zac Whittle. Join me as I am whisked around London by Zac to meet the successful and sweaty gems of the innovative London hospitality industry.  The opening act for the series is Lee Westcott, currently the executive head chef of Elodie and Vervain...

Ready yourself for a nostalgic revival of beloved childhood meals all sloshed back with too many glasses of Wingnuts wine at Papi on Mentor Terrace. Matthew, head chef of this welcoming gaff, explains exactly why he loves being part of the industry, the relationships that motivate him and his journey from small-town chef, to pop-up master and now, business owner. Listen to Matthew's eloquent, yet...

Ever wondered what an establishment which amalgamates ramen and the food of a greasy spoon would be like? Fucking delicious. The answer is Supa Ya, a "traditionally inauthentic" ramen restaurant in Dalston which switches things up by adding British elements like Cumberland sausages and cheese. Luke reveals his journey to becoming a double restaurant owner with Supa Ya now in Dalston and Peckham. I...

Hi, I'm Stella Gent and I'm going to take you out for dinner. As a food addict and never-ending question-asker, I introduce you to my new podcast series exploring the hospitality industry. Having worked as a waitress at Ottolenghi's restaurant ROVI in central London, I am not only interested in the entrepreneurial and business aspects of hospitality but also the familial community-like aspect of i...