WELCOME

Good food, simple recipes and a look behind the scenes of everything we're cooking, building and eating.

I’ve spent the whole of my working life in kitchens.

I started cooking professionally in 2008 and went on to work in some of London’s most respected restaurants in a career spanning 18 years to date (I have done my 10,000 hours). Those years chained to the stove taught me the importance of technique, discipline and attention to detail and perhaps more importantly it gave me the tools to develop my own style of cooking along the way. I am extremely focussed on great quality produce, something that was shaped in me from childhood, growing up on a small farm in Herefordshire where I gained a natural understanding of how great ingredients were grown and to appreciate the time spent nurturing them.

As of now I have three restaurants in London (STRAKER’S, ACRE & STRAKER’S DINING ROOM) and soon to open STRAKER’S NYC at the iconic former Lucky Strike site in New York.

Beyond restaurants, I work on content and nurturing my other businesses - all in the food space.

I absolutely love what I do and am extremely lucky to travel extensively in search of fine food, culture and a good time.

Through all of it, my philosophy remains the same:

Use the best ingredients, keep things simple, seasonal, and focus on flavour.

On this Substack, I’ll share the dishes I’m cooking at home, the restaurants I’m excited about, the ingredients I’m obsessed with and the lessons I’ve learnt from years spent in professional kitchens and anything else I deem appropriate.

Most importantly, I want this to be a place that helps people cook with more confidence.

Good food doesn’t have to be intimidating, and some of the best meals come from understanding a few simple principles and applying them well.

What you’ll find here

Recipes
Detailed recipes with the techniques, tips and thinking behind them. Not just what to cook, but why.

Behind the Scenes
A closer look at restaurant life, product development, ingredients, cookware, business and everything else happening outside the kitchen.

Restaurants & Travel
The places worth visiting, the dishes worth ordering and the food experiences that inspire me around the world.

Subscriber Community
A place to ask questions, share ideas and connect with other people who love cooking and eating well.

Whether you’ve followed me for years or you’ve only just found me, thank you for being here.

I hope this inspires you to get into the kitchen and cook something good.

TS