Revelations: Stefano Camplone, head chef, Barge East, London
What was your best subject at school?
Maths. It was the only subject where I could express my full potential
What was your first job?
I helped my father in his garage
What was your first job in catering?
I worked in a small wine bar with a very experienced chef who taught me how to behave in a kitchen and respect ingredients
What do you normally have for breakfast?
Espresso and a sweet pastry
What do you do to relax?
I usually go climbing and then have a nice cold beer
Which is your favourite restaurant?
Meraki in London, I love the Santorini tomato salad
What is your favourite drink?
Negroni. It's a chef thing
What is your favourite cuisine?
Italian, of course
Which person in catering have you most admired?
René Redzepi
Which person gave you the greatest inspiration?
Niko Romito. He taught himself how to be a chef and he does an amazing job helping people through his school in the tiny village like Castel di Sangro. I met him at a cooking show when I was 16 and I can still remember everything he said and the dishes he prepared
Describe your ultimate nightmare?
Being back in a kitchen with all the people who bullied me when I was a junior chef, doing a shift that never ends
Tell us a secret...
I love pineapple on pizza
What irritates you most about the industry?
The amount of waste produced and the bullying from senior chefs
Who would play "you" in a film about your life?
Someone short but very handsome and charming like me
What's your favourite book?
Let My People Go Surfing by Yvon Chouinard
Who would be in your "fantasy" brigade?
I have my fantasy brigade here at Barge East
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