Revelations: Scott Smith, head chef, the Oarsman, Marlow

09 November 2022
Revelations: Scott Smith, head chef, the Oarsman, Marlow

We delve into the life and inner thoughts of a top chef. This week: Scott Smith, head chef, the Oarsman, Marlow

What was your best subject at school?

I would say history was my best, I was fascinated by the history of Scotland and the World Wars. Still didn't pass my final exams though

What was your first job?

My first job was working in my step-mum's florist. I would clean out the buckets and cut the green for wreaths. It was a very busy wee shop

What do you normally have for breakfast?

Double espresso and a Berocca What do you do to relax?

My days off quite usually revolve round when my football team are playing and I get quite emotionally invested, so to relax I go to work

Which is your favourite restaurant?

St John, hands down, everything about it is outstanding. It was my first stop after my daughter was born! What a day that was, having a child then having rarebit and a Guinness! Can't beat it

Which ingredient do you hate the most?

I generally dislike all foods that are considered ‘fine foods' such as foie gras or caviar. Give me a pig's head any day of the week

What do you always carry with you?

Darts, I always have my darts on me, you never know when you'll come across a dartboard. There is barely a feeling in the world worse than walking into a pub to see a dartboard but no darts. I don't wish that upon anybody

Cast away on a desert island, what luxury would you take?

Is there a dartboard on the island? If not, probably a dartboard. And the darts obviously, but as I said I pretty much always have them on me

Which person in catering have you most admired?

Fergus Henderson has always been a great influence of mine. His cooking is just so honest and quite frankly, genius

Tell us a secret...

I once ate 36 Greggs pastries in 24 hours

What irritates you most about the industry?

Tripadvisor

When did you last eat a hamburger?

I've been paleo for a while now so It's been about 6 months since I had a proper burger with the bread and everything. Although I've had them with lettuce ‘buns' I'm not sitting here and kidding myself that's a burger. It's meat in a salad!

What's your favourite film?

Quadrophenia, hands down.

Who would play "you" in a film about your life?

Lenny Henry, purely because he was sensational as Gareth Blackstock in Chef!

What's your favourite book?

Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

What is your favourite prepared product?

N'duja, it's in everything I make. I struggle to think of the last time myself or one of the team done a dish up for trial and I didn't say ‘Could do with some n'duja!'

Who would be in your "fantasy" brigade? (please give full names and details of where they currently work)

Larder - Paddy Powell, Allegra.

Garnish - Shaun Hill, The Walnut Tree

Fish - Chef Bryn, Odettes

Sauce - Anthony Demetre, Wild Honey

Pastry - Adam Degg, unsure where he is now, but super talented guy!

If you had more time, what would you do?

I still have plenty of time to do what I'd like to do.

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