IN THE SPOTLIGHT – Jamie Smith

MEET JAMIE, OUR EXECUTIVE CHEF WHO JOINED THE PAROGON GROUP IN JULY 2020. HE IS A BIG FOOTBALL FAN, SUPPORTING NEWCASTLE UNITED WHICH HE SAYS CAN BE QUITE PAINFUL MOST OF THE TIME AND TO UNWIND HE LIKES TO KEEP FIT AND PLAY MARIO KART ON HIS PHONE.

He has been a chef for almost 19 years and is still learning, still evolving and still hungry. This is reflected in his cookbook collection which he has spent £1000s on and his visits to numerous Michelin starred restaurants. Did someone say obsessive?

“I started cooking at the age of 15 in an award-winning kitchen under the guidance of 2 great chefs and just instantly fell in love with working in a kitchen environment. I was so keen to learn as much as I could about cooking and working in professional kitchens that on several occasions, I worked for free just to gain experience.

Since then, Jamie has worked in every kind of hospitality kitchen you can think of from catering for conferences to working in 3 star Michelin restaurant’s. By the age of 18 he was Sous chef of a busy restaurant becoming a Head Chef at the age of 22.

“I have been lucky enough to have some great achievements both individually and as a team. I was part of a team have achieved a Michelin star as a 3^rd ranked chef and as a Head Chef I retained 2 rosettes in a very popular restaurant. I have also been profiled as a Head Chef in the Good Food Guide”

At the age of 21 Jamie appeared on Masterchef the professionals and although by his own admission he didn’t do that well, Michel Roux Jnr did say “this kid has a lot of potential. At this point he was also Sous Chef of Rookery Hall which held 2 rosettes and is also where Posh and Becks got engaged.

Fast forward a few years and at the age of 27 he became Head Chef of one of Manchester’s busiest restaurants, Australasia, part of the Living Ventures group, where he also won Head Chef of the Year up against 38 other candidates. He has also been Executive Chef of 5 restaurants across the Solita group before he was 30. So, it would appear Michel Roux Jnr was correct about that ‘potential’

“All of that experience was absolutely fantastic and played a key part in how my career has progressed, allowing me to open my own pop-up restaurant and also work as a consultant for several restaurants, advising and assisting on the development of their menus”

However, it’s not all about work for Jamie and when he isn’t slaving over a hot stove he can found (when allowed) visiting places like Alton Towers, Knowsley Safari Park, Chester Zoo, any Park and any Soft Play, basically anywhere that can keep his daughter entertained with his fiancée Natalie.

He is also a keep fit enthusiast and has recently started CrossFit training and in true style of wanting to push himself as much as possible, recently competed in the Crossfit games.

Jamie is a great addition to the company and with so much knowledge and experience, it is great that he is bringing all of his passion and love for food to Parogon, developing and evolving our already great menus.