Member Article

Top chef chooses North East supply partner

Sunderland-born Britain’s Best Dish chef Simon McKenzie has chosen North East hospitality specialists Goodfellows to equip the new restaurant, Urban Kitchen, in Guernsey.

The deal saw the Peterlee-based business provide a personal advisory service and supply everything from luxury front of house plates, glasses and servers sourced from around the world, to specialist kitchen equipment such as new generation sous vide equipment and liquid nitrogen fountains.

Goodfellows was set up last year by entrepreneur husband and wife team Paul and Valda Goodfellow and supplies fine quality clothing, tableware and innovative kitchen equipment to a number of five-star hotels, Michelin-starred chefs and small independent operators, as well as providing bespoke design and production services for clients looking for product exclusivity.

Paul and Valda have a long track record in individually managing or jointly establishing successful hospitality-based businesses including UK market leading Continental Chef Supplies and north East gourmet food producer Mr Lazenby’s.

McKenzie, whose career includes working at Seaham Hall, and who has worked with Marco Pierre White, at Gordon Ramsey’s Aubergine restaurant and with John Campbell at The Vineyard, said: “Paul was my mentor when I was at catering college in the North East, my father took me to buy my first chef’s whites from him and I’ve gone to him ever since, so his business and advice was the obvious choice when I was tasked with equipping a new restaurant from scratch.

“As an ex-chef, he knows exactly what makes us tick, and the importance of having the best tools for the job. He really takes his time to bring your vision to life and to provide the very best dining experience. He knows that plates, for instance, are the canvas an artist uses to paint his masterpiece, and they can make or break a dish.

“He knew my vision for Urban Kitchen and helped me choose what was right for me as a chef with regards to my personality and food style as well as what was right for our guests and the business. Paul has been my supply partner all the way through my career because we have the same values of quality, innovation and service.”

Paul Goodfellow added: “Our aim is to give restaurateurs exclusive products and the latest kitchen equipment, and back that up with a quality customer service that builds long term relationships. Urban Kitchen has now launched to great acclaim and we are very pleased to have played our part in it.

“We were delighted that Simon chose to work with us again, and were happy to spend the day showing him around our London showroom on Baker Street, helping him pick out everything he needed for front of house and the kitchens of the new restaurant. We wish him all the success he deserves.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Julie Brammer .