Chefs Get Personal with Justine Murphy

Today we’re launching the anonymous VERiFAIR Hospitality Workplace Survey across the UK and Ireland.

If you work in hospitality - front or back of house - we’d really appreciate you taking part.

The survey takes less than 3 minutes to complete and helps gather real insight from people working across the industry every day.

Please also share it with your teams, colleagues, friends and hospitality WhatsApp groups.

SURVEY LINK:

https://secure.verifair.com/survey

#VERiFAIR #Hospitality #HospitalityIndustry #HospitalitySurvey #UKHospitality #IrelandHospitality #Chefs #Restaurants #HospitalityLife
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In this episode, Justine interviews Chef Andrew Wong.

Born and raised in London, Andrew’s path into cheffing was far from typical. He studied chemistry at Oxford University and then transferred to the London School of Economics, where he studied Social Anthropology.

When his father - who originally ran the restaurant in Pimlico - died, Andrew enrolled at Westminster Kingsway College culinary school with a view to helping out in the kitchen. During his time there, he made the decision to expand his knowledge of Chinese cooking and spent a year in China working in the cities of Beijing and Qingdao and studying at the Sichuan Culinary Institute just outside Chengdu. Returning to London in 2012, he took over the family restaurant and after a refurbishment and rename, he launched A.Wong.

Thank you for listening to Chefs Get Personal. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode, and don't forget to share, rate and review.

Follow us at @chefsgetpersonalpodcast.

Follow your host, Justine Murphy, on Instagram @justinemurphyofficial to keep up with her latest work and food adventures.

Follow Andrew Wong on Instagram at @awongsw1 to stay updated on his journey, restaurant and everything he's creating.

This episode is part of Season Four of Chefs Get Personal - real conversations with some of the world's most exciting chefs, recorded in our brand new studio, bringing you closer than ever before.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Justine interviews Chef Paul Ainsworth.

After training at Southampton City College, he worked at top restaurants including Gary Rhodes’ Rhodes in the Square and Gordon Ramsay’s three-Michelin-star Restaurant Gordon Ramsay. In 2009, Paul and Emma took over No6 in Padstow, earning a Michelin star in 2013. They also acquired Rojano’s in 2011, rebranding it as Caffè Rojano in 2020. In 2016, they opened Padstow Townhouse, followed by the reopening of The Mariners Public House in 2019, which won ‘Best Pub’ at the 2020 GQ Food and Drink Awards.

Paul’s accomplishments include winning ‘Restaurateur of the Year’ and ‘Chef Award’ at The Cateys in 2019, and publishing his debut cookbook, For the Love of Food, in 2024. In January 2025, he and Emma acquired St Enodoc Hotel in Rock. Paul is also an active charity supporter, raising funds for Pancreatic Cancer UK and the Children’s Cancer Fund. With TV appearances on Great British Menu, MasterChef, and Next Level Chef, Paul is a brand ambassador for BMW, HexClad, and Kamado Joe.

Thank you for listening to Chefs Get Personal. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode, and don't forget to share, rate and review.

Follow us at @chefsgetpersonalpodcast.

Follow your host, Justine Murphy, on Instagram @justinemurphyofficial to keep up with her latest work and food adventures.

Follow Paul Ainsworth on Instagram at @paulainsw6rth to stay updated on his journey, restaurant and everything he's creating.

This episode is part of Season Four of Chefs Get Personal - real conversations with some of the world's most exciting chefs, recorded in our brand new studio, bringing you closer than ever before.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Justine interviews Chef Ashley Palmer-Watts.

Ashley Palmer-Watts is a pioneering British chef known for his relentless pursuit of quality and innovation. Born in Maiden Newton, Dorset, his culinary journey began at 13 as a pot washer at Le Petit Canard, where he discovered a lifelong passion for food. A visit to The Fat Duck proved transformative. Inspired, Ashley wrote to Heston Blumenthal, earned a stage, and joined the kitchen. By 25, he became Head Chef, playing a key role in the restaurant securing its third Michelin star in 2004.

In 2011, Ashley helped open Dinner by Heston Blumenthal at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, where historical British dishes were reimagined with modern flair. The restaurant earned two Michelin stars and expanded to Melbourne in 2013, cementing Ashley’s reputation for blending heritage with creativity. After 20 years with The Fat Duck Group, Ashley launched new ventures. He co-founded Artisan Coffee Co., applying his refined palate to elevate specialty coffee. In 2023, he opened The Devonshire in Soho with Oisín Rogers and Charlie Carroll—a modern pub and chop house featuring in-house butchery, wood-fire cooking, and a bakery, winning widespread acclaim.

Ashley also co-founded Forgotten, a forward-thinking spirits brand focused on sustainability and flavor, challenging traditional norms in the drinks industry. From Michelin-starred kitchens to coffee, pubs, and spirits, Ashley Palmer-Watts continues to push boundaries, driven by innovation, integrity, and a deep respect for craft.

Thank you for listening to Chefs Get Personal. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode, and don't forget to share, rate and review.

Follow us at @chefsgetpersonalpodcast.

Follow your host, Justine Murphy, on Instagram @justinemurphyofficial to keep up with her latest work and food adventures.

Follow Ashley Palmer-Watts on Instagram at @ashleypalmerwatts to stay updated on his journey, restaurant and everything he's creating.

This episode is part of Season Four of Chefs Get Personal - real conversations with some of the world's most exciting chefs, recorded in our brand new studio, bringing you closer than ever before.

Photos by @jodihindsphotography
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In this episode, Justine interviews Chef Chetan Sharma.

Raised in Berkshire, Chef Chet Sharma’s route into kitchens was anything but conventional. Born to Indian and British heritage, his earliest food memory is of arriving at his family’s farm in Gurgaon, India, at age six, greeted by his uncle’s freshly made malai kofta—from buffalo milk paneer to hand-rolled rotis made with heritage wheat. That moment of warmth and flavour left a lasting impression.

Born with a lung condition, Chet spent much of his childhood indoors, often in the kitchen with his grandmother, absorbing her resourceful, waste-free cooking. A voracious reader, he developed a keen academic mind, studying Chemistry at UCL while funding his studies with a late-night DJ residency at Ministry of Sound. Alongside, he worked in professional kitchens, including Benares under Atul Kochhar.

His culinary path deepened at Locanda Locatelli, where Giorgio Locatelli spotted his talent and assigned him to pastry. While pursuing a Master’s in Neurology, Chet completed 16 stagiaires at leading restaurants including The Fat Duck, Le Manoir, and Dabbous. He later earned a second Master’s in Physics and a DPhil in Condensed Matter Physics at Oxford.

In 2013, he joined Mugaritz in Spain under Andoni Aduriz, a formative chapter that shaped his creativity and leadership. Back in the UK, he became Director of R&D for Simon Rogan, followed by roles at The Ledbury and Moor Hall.

In 2021, after years developing his own culinary voice and working closely with JKS Restaurants, he opened BiBi in Mayfair—an award-winning homage to his grandmothers and the diverse influences that shaped him.

Thank you for listening to Chefs Get Personal. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode, and don't forget to share, rate and review.

Follow us at @chefsgetpersonalpodcast.

Follow your host, Justine Murphy, on Instagram @justinemurphyofficial to keep up with her latest work and food adventures.

Follow Chetan Sharma on Instagram at @chetansharmaox to stay updated on his journey, restaurant and everything he's creating.

This episode is part of Season Four of Chefs Get Personal - real conversations with some of the world's most exciting chefs, recorded in our brand new studio, bringing you closer than ever before.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.