Revelations: Craig Hogarth, brand executive chef at Scotts, Buzzworks Holdings

What was your first job?
At 15, I began working at the Brig o' Doon House hotel in Ayr as a kitchen porter

 

What do you normally have for breakfast?
A double espresso on the run, sometimes accompanied by a toasted crumpet

 

What do you do to relax?
I have a young daughter, so with my days off I like to relax and spend as much time with her and my wife as possible

 

Which is your favourite restaurant?
Guy Savoy in Paris

 

What's your favourite hotel?
Gleneagles. It's such a great location and I love that I can play a round of golf while my wife enjoys the spa facilities

 

What is your favourite food?
Anything seafood or shellfish related. Scotland's seafood is regarded as some of the best in the world

 

Which ingredient do you hate the most?

 

What flavour combinations do you detest?
Anything overcomplicated. I like to stick to three to five flavours max

 

What do you always carry with you?
A spoon in my pocket

 

How would you describe your desk?
Versatile

 

Which person gave you the greatest inspiration?
Former three-Michelin-starred chef Pierre Koffmann. I got the chance to work in one of his London restaurants and it just opens your eyes to cooking in general. The mentality, focus and style he has â€" he is an incredible chef

 

Cast away on a desert island, what luxury would you take?
My mobile phone, so I could check the football scores

 

If not yourself, who would you rather have been?
I’d love to have been an F1 driver like Lewis Hamilton

 

Describe your ultimate nightmare?
Arriving to my shift on Christmas morning to find the fridges have all broken down overnight and I need to prepare a busy service for 600 covers when all of our suppliers are on holiday

 

Get The Caterer every week on your smartphone, tablet, or even in good old-fashioned hard copy (or all three!).