Meet the Chef – Helder Felipe, The Chester Fields Country Pub & Restaurant #Meet the Chef

Briony Wilson
10th August 2018

How long have you been a chef?

I started my career 30 years ago and haven’t looked back.

Who was your finest mentor?

I have worked with many great Chef’s but my finest mentor has to be my father,  he taught me integrity

What is the most valuable lesson you have learnt in the kitchen?

To be honest.

Which chef do you admire most and why?

My Mum is a trained chef specialising in Med cuisine, growing up tasting her dishes and watching her in the kitchen influenced my passion for cooking and being creative with great produce.

How would you describe your style of cooking and current menu?

Contempery fusion food is my passion and although TCF is a gastro pub serving traditional British classics the rest of the menu alongside of this has allowed my passion for this cooking style to come alive

What do you hate most about the restaurant business?

As most Chef’s would probably agree, the current national shortage of chefs is disheartening. The passion for the industry seems to be disappearing and I feel something needs to be done about it to draw in more people. You gain a lot of skills when entering the hospitality industry and you can really let your creative juices flow.

What meal do you like cooking most for yourself?

Whole baked seabream, especially in the summer season.

What is your favourite drink?

A nice craft Gin & Tonic, it is hard to choose a favourite, but the Whitley Niell collection is up there for me now.

What car do you drive?

Mini Countryman but I am after a duck egg blue mini convertible

What do you do for fun?

I am a family man and love to spend as much time as possible with my wife, 2 children, the dog and Buttons the rabbit!

Married or single?

18 years happily married

Which team do you support?

Everton

Taste Cheshire are paying – where would you like to go for a meal?

Upstairs at the grill, Mark our MD speaks very highly of it and it hasn’t won many awards for no reason!

What foods are cool at the moment?

Street food is very trendy at the moment and a great style of sociable eating

Who is making it happen in the industry at the moment?

Johnathon Jones, he’s not afraid to colour outside the lines in the kitchen.

Three favourite films

             Godfather Part 1

             Apocolypse now

             Leon, the professional

Twitter or Facebook?

Twitter

How long do you see yourself being a chef?

For the rest of my working career

What’s the secret to a restaurant dish?

Honest flavours, local produce and passion from the Chef

What annoys you most when you go out for a meal?

Lack of atmosphere, the food and service can be great but if the ambience is not right then that’s a fail for me.