My West London Life

Tim Allen

November
27

Tim Allen, head chef at Kensington’s Michelin starred restaurant Launceston Place on food faux pas and west Yorkshire versus west London

How would you describe the food you make?

Honest; using the best products I can buy for the money we charge, handled in a respectful fashion.

Have you ever accidentally made a faux pas rather than a taste sensation?

There’s been a few! Salted peanut risotto and roasted cucumber – proper dodgy.

How do you go about sourcing great British produce?

I’ve worked with suppliers for years and know the producers/growers. There are chefs in London who claim they are unique in what they buy and experts in products, but at the end of the day, experience and longevity counts for a lot.

From west Yorkhire to west London: how does life in Kensington compare?

Completely different. Much higher paced and demands even more of my time at work. Launceston Place is in a great location so that helps a lot. People in Yorkshire are nicer, though!

Does your upbringing influence your work? If so, how?

Yes – I was brought up to graft, and that’s what I do.

You spent seven successful years at two Michelin-starred Whatley Manor in the Cotswolds, why did you decide to leave?

It was time to do it for myself.

Where would you go for a bite to eat with friends?

I tend to go the coast and eat oysters.

Who is the most inspirational chef you have worked with, and what did you learn from them?

Martin Burge and Daniel Clifford. Martin for his patience and manner in the kitchen and his discipline. Daniel for his creativity, passion and sheer determination.

What’s your guilty pleasure?

Snickers ice cream.

www.launcestonplace-restaurant.co.uk

Chrissy Ryan, Founder of BookBar

February
2

We caught up with Chrissy Ryan, founder of BookBar, Chelsea Manor Street’s beloved Bookshop & Wine Bar

Hi Chrissy! You’re the founder of BookBar, a bookshop and social space based in Islington and now… Chelsea! Tell us about the ethos of the place and what inspired you to set it up?

Everything we do at BookBar is about bringing people together through books. We serve coffee and wine that you can sip as you… Read more →

Nadia Cavelle & Zachary Fall

July
22

Theatre makers Nadia Cavelle & Zachary Fall talk parenthood, creativity & why they co-founded the Woven Voices Prize

Firstly, tell us your favourite thing about west London…

We love the hustle and bustle of Soho, where we’ve seen many shows and attended many auditions! We also have very fond memories of Chiswick, home of the Tabard Theatre, where we produced our first play, Bruises, in the summer of 2015.

Tell

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