Chefs Profile
Chef Name: Haydn Johnson
Restaurant: Berry Head Hotel
What/who inspired you to become a chef?
When I was 16, I got a job in a kitchen at a local pub. The two chefs there were called Mark & AJ. They made me want to become a chef.
Where did you train?
I trained at Truro College
What was your first job in the industry?
I worked as a Kitchen Porter
Which section of the kitchen do you most like working on and why?
I enjoy cooking fish the most. Nothing beats flipping fish over and seeing a crispy skin
What do you enjoy most about being a chef?
Camaraderie within the kitchen
In a few words, how would you define good food?
I would say that good food is enjoyment, from the moment it is put in front of you until you take the final bite
Please provide a top cooking tip for our readers
I would say my top tip would be to be patient. Sometimes we can be too quick to stir a pan or open an oven
What’s your most memorable cooking experience?
Most days working in a kitchen will give you a new experience, that is what is so great about the job. If I had to pick just one, it would be when I cooked at the Fish Stock Festival and the wind was so strong, it blew my hob out
What are your hopes for the coming year?
My hopes are to build on what we have already achieved and to ensure that both the brigade and customers are happy
To be a good chef you need to be
• Determined
• Hard working
• Have attention to detail
• Most of all a little nuts
How would you summarise your cooking style in one or two sentences?
I would have to say classic combinations
Which chefs have most inspired you, in terms of both your career and cooking style?
You take a little something from everyone you work with
Have you or your restaurant won any awards or received any notable accolades?
We won our first rosette in 2018 and got bronze in hotel of the year
In terms of produce, what do you like most about the local area?
Fish living and working in Brixham
How do you go about choosing suppliers?
Best quality at the best price
As a chef, what is your favourite time of year and why?
I would have to say spring as I like the colours it produces
What is your favourite seasonal ingredient? How you like to use it?
I love Rhubarb. I just love the tangy flavour, and nothing beats a rhubarb crumble