Chef James was established in May 2016 with the goal firstly to help Peterborough have more access to high quality, fresh and healthier food. Today Chef James is based at Stamford Garden Centre on Casterton Road, PE9 4BB where I run unique pop up restaurant experience evenings in their restaurant. It is fantastic to have so many great fresh herbs around me to pick! I also run cookery calendar even
ts at the Garden centre, such as BBQ demonstrations, AGA cooking, growing produce and flavour partners. To be honest you just have to pop along as there is always something new going on in this warm and welcoming venue where you could literally spend a whole afternoon! I am also currently working on an outbuilding at the Garden Centre Community village with many other fantastic local services. In here, when it is complete, we will run cookery schools for both children and adults, parties and private bookings such as wakes, corporate hospitality groups, brainstorming and innovation workshops with lunches as well as preparing our Chef James meals to deliver to your home or office! This service was born from personal experience of working late and long hours and frustrated by the sheer lack of fresh food in my city I did some digging and talking to local people. "Why does fresh food have to be so expensive?"
"Many local restaurants and eateries do not make their food on site!"
"I have lost trust in local food places". "I can make better food myself!"
I had heard enough, so Chef James was launched to help address the current situation and offer better choice and quality whilst giving convenience. Chef James has a food philosophy and ethos to use local people, suppliers, foods where possible and cook handmade and homemade great tasting food which is authentic and not all about high margin. My mantra is also simple, help our local people gain back trust whilst eating healthier, fresher food everyday at an affordable price. Over the first year the response to Chef James has been overwhelming and the delivery area has grown from Hampton to much of Peterborough and now Stamford and the surrounding villages and areas too. Today you can pre order to collect Chef James meals from Stamford Garden Centre as well as book events, chef demonstrations, cookery classes for children and our unique mum and dads night off where I cook with your children together your dinner and then we all dine together, where many have said it was such a magical experience. Original Bio...
My food will cover many world cuisines, I was classical trained in London and France and worked for Langans Brasserie Mayfair, Sir Michael Caines Restaurant, Harvey Nichols chain. I also had the privilege of cooking for HRH Prince of Wales. I have also worked for 10 years in Indian, Thai, Chinese, Italian and Middle Eastern cookery to name a few. I would describe my cookery style as fresh, clean with bold flavours which looks visually stunning and bright. I believe in great modern authentic food which is not heavy and not using unnecessary fats or salt. I will be supporting local produce, whilst utilising every part of the ingredient. I am incredibly conscious of food waste and I work hard to extract maximum flavour from each and every ingredient I use, combining them to work in harmony with each other. I work with textures and flavours to excite the palate with each and every mouthful
My customers are so important to me and have helped me mould my service to what it is today and this remains as important to me as ever, so I welcome any feedback, ideas or queries you may have. Please contact me on [email protected] I would love to hear from you. Many thanks
Chef James
