My biggest influence in my early days in the business was my college lecturer Lawrie Mills. He pointed me in the right direction and encouraged me to follow his career path by training in west end hotels. I consequently ended up working at the Grosvenor House hotel and the Dorchester under Anton Mossiman. Working for Jeremy King and Chris Corbin at Le Caprice was a big learning curve and that really polished my restaurant knowledge and I learnt what the customer really wanted.
Thanks to Malcolm and to Jason for those entertaining photo shoots, and to the wonderful team at Mitchell Beazley - in particular Juanne for doing the ironing! - and copy-editor Vanessa Kendell. And lastly to Kevin from St John restaurant in London who helped me out in the kitchen.
