Revelations: Kuba Winkowski, head chef, the Feathered Nest Inn, Nether Westcote, Oxfordshire

What was your first job?

 

Overnight data typing for a courier company

 

What was your first job in catering?

 

KFC

 

What do you normally have for breakfast?

 

A glass of water and a coffee is a must! Then a three-egg-white and one whole egg omelette with a small salad

 

What do you do to relax?

 

A long country walk, ideally with my wife and son. But sometimes it needs to be a G&T

 

Which is your favourite restaurant?

 

There are so many… the Ledbury, Hide and Bao are some of my favourites

 

What is your favourite food/cuisine?

 

Wood-fired Roman-style pizza with proper artisan charcuterie

 

Which ingredient do you hate the most?

 

Hate is a big word… but I am not a fan of fish livers

 

What flavour combinations do you detest?

 

I don't like sweet and sour, as well as combinations like white chocolate and shellfish

 

Which person in catering have you most admired?

 

The Roux brothers

 

Which person gave you the greatest inspiration?

 

Raymond Blanc

 

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

 

My pocket-sprung mattress

 

If not yourself, who would you rather have been?

 

I would have liked to be like Bear Grylls

 

Describe your ultimate nightmare?

 

Someone dropping a tray of desserts just before plating and serving

 

When and where was

 

your last holiday?

 

My last big holiday was in Sardinia in August

 

What irritates you most about the industry?

 

Sometimes it irritates me that everyone thinks they are an expert, when most of the time it's about personal preference. We are all different and we like different things!

 

What's your favourite book?

 

Nowadays is seems to be Harry Potter, which I read with my son