News

Wednesday 7th January

Chefs In Scotland News-page Wednesday January 7^th 2015

The light from my office lamp reflects upon the window panes as white rain drops hang on the glass before falling down, to be replaced by others. Through the bare trees which sit across Dundanion Road behind the large house called Gowanbank, the sky remains steadfastly grey.

Out and About

It was a very good December for Chefs In Scotland and the many excellent chefs who went about their work on temporary placements.

Johann Watson, the Relief Chef Manageress, had some well -deserved time off over the festive period and I enjoyed myself working between Christmas and New year coming in at about ten pm and managing to get a few jobs out and some adverts and a couple of permanent placements.

Lillian Clarkson spent December up at the Redcliffe in Inverness and did, I believe, make it back for the bells in Glencoe where hopefully there were no massacres. I hope 2015 is a good year for you Lillian.

Gail Meikle has been a head chef on Skye for the last five years and her first relief job was over at the up and coming place to eat in Aberfeldy, The Three Chimneys, with serial restaurateur Jake Schamrel. The feedback was excellent so many thanks Gail and Jake wins a week in Nerja South Spain.

Kirsten Grant has completed successfully several jobs via Chefs In Scotland now, The Waterside in Peterhead and Burts in the Borders and is now over helping out in Arran at Auchrannie. Many thanks Kirsten and again excellent feedback.

The flying Finn Mikko Koskinen went off to work in Fife on the 16^th of December and duly completed his time and helped the hotel into the New Year. Feedback from Scott Wilkinson, the owner was that Mikko did all that was asked of him and “is an excellent chef” Cheers Mikko

Piotr Dzeiedzic has a permanent full time head chef job in the Borders at Tillmouth where we placed him about five years ago. He takes up a relief job over New Year and this year was in Dumfries. Job completed on time. Many thanks Piotr (again)

At Loch Melfort, Jamie Atkinson and Frank McDonald both turned up, completed the job as booked. Thanks gentlemen and again all the best for 2015.

New Year and time for the mature men to step up to the mark

30^th December and the morning of the 31^st of December and those available on relief became a little fewer.

David Ironside answered the called and drove up on the 30^th of December to Bridge of Orchy (they call it BOO). He managed a week before injuring himself and will NOT lose any grading points. Recover soon David and all the best for 2015.

Meanwhile, the call came in from Pitlochry and Paul Chlebek (mean little bread) had his phone on and he duly caught the train up on the 31^st of December to start work that evening. Paul is completing his two week stint. Many thanks Paul.

All in all about 40 relief chefs out over Christmas and December and only one failed to complete and that by a couple of days and there was an issue about not being paid correctly.

When Will Furlong comes up to you in a hotel on Arran and says “should have been a plumber Will!”

“No thanks, being a chef is a hard job, not brilliantly paid, asking for good cooking ability, good multi- tasking skills, often man management skills, perseverance, good knowledge of kitchen hygiene and so much more. And like many of my colleagues in Scotland, one which I am proud to do well”

OK enough of getting maudlin.

Relief is as expected quiet at this time of year, but permanent work is starting to pile in and I am hopeful that 2015 will be a very god year for Scottish Hospitality, for the many decent thoughtful employers as well as the many good up and coming young chefs out there.

All the best for 2015

Michael in Moffat