Chef Revelations – Mark Poynton
What was your best subject at school?
Maths because the teacher was hot so it was the only subject I concentrated in!
What was your first job in catering?
Making bacon sandwiches in a café on the river Dee in Chester
Which is your favourite restaurant?
Alyn Williams at the Westbury - great food and perfect and relaxed service
What is your favourite drink?
Guinness Extra Cold (pints of)
What is your favourite hotel?
Holbeck Ghyll in the Lake District - amazing views
What is your favourite food/cuisine?
French because it is how I was trained and I still cook in that style
What do you do to relax?
Play golf
Which ingredient do you hate the most?
Honey
Which person in catering have you most admired?
Daniel Clifford, my old boss. I never met anyone with so much determination to succeed and, trust me, we went through some shit times!
Which person gave you the greatest inspiration?
Ian McDowall, my first proper head chef. He taught me always to question everything because when you stop questioning things you will stop learning!
Cast away on a desert island, what luxury would you take?
My wife and son (and my iPad so I could watch the football)
What daily newspaper/website do you read?
www.thestaffcanteen.com/Sky Sports News
What is your favourite prepared product?
Colman's English mustard powder
If you had not gone into catering, where do you think you would be now?
Back home drunk with friends and causing trouble
Describe your ultimate nightmare
Losing my family
Tell us a secret…
I got my only yellow card in junior football for elbowing Michael Owen when I was 13
Who would be in your fantasy brigade?
Daniel Clifford (Midsummer House) - meat; Russell Bateman (Colettes at the Grove) - fish; Andy Sinclair (Platinum Recruitment) - garnish; Matt Gillan (the Pass at South Lodge) - larder; Michelle Gillott (wife/mummy to my boy and Sosa UK consultant) - pastry; Ging Gang (deported former Midsummer House legend) - potwash; me and Martyn Compton (Tanners, Plymouth) - the pass (trying all the food these guys have cooked!)
Mark Poynton, chef-patron, Restaurant Alimentum, Cambridge
