3 Courses with... Jason Annette - The Ivy, Manchester
We chat to Jason Annette, Senior Head Chef at The Ivy Spinningfields, Manchester
STARTER: A story from your early years that helped shape you
As a child at school my favourite lesson was home economics with Mrs Higgins. My first memory was making Victorian Sponge Cake with strawberry filling. I was about 12 years old and I was hooked. I would then mither my mum continuously when she went shopping for ingredients so I made Apple Tart from scratch. However, a precious shared moment was my mum showing me how to make her famous Hot Pot. As the years passed, I continued to love cooking which led me into a YTS apprenticeship on £26 per week. Money didn’t matter, the driving force was my enthusiasm to make food that people reacted to. Family and friends would always tell me the honest truth. This then led in 1985 to my first paid job as a Commis Chef at a small Italian restaurant in the centre of Manchester. My father insisted on taking me to work and that I got there one hour early; that ethos has stayed with me to this day. Being early sets a benchmark for the day and prepares you for the day ahead.
MAIN COURSE: Share a moment in your life you are most proud of
Over the years I have grown and developed myself as a chef and learned from some of the best in the industry. I have looked up to many over the years. However, none compare to Mark Askew, Chef Director at my current position as Senior Head Chef at The Ivy Spinningfields in Manchester. Mark has helped me hone my skills for attention to detail and the final finish, all whilst running a very busy city centre restaurant serving on average 1,000 guests per day. But what humbles me is the years I have had the chance to nurture and grow so many like-minded individuals and chefs wanting to prove themselves in an industry of which the prime objective is to please others. We have a team of 80 in the kitchen in Manchester. I’m incredibly proud to have contributed to its success, having been there since day one.
DESSERT: What is the sweetest story you can tell?
The birth of my four wonderful children; Katie, Sophie, George and Emily, who bring me back to earth after a busy day! Nothing brings you back to reality like a nappy change, a parent’s evening report, playing pool kirby on holiday, learning to ride their bikes or even teaching them to make homemade sushi. This is the one lesson where you never quite know what you’re doing but makes me proud every day.
The Ivy Spinningfields, The Pavilion, Byrom Street, Spinningfields, Manchester, M3 3HG
t: 0161 5033222
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