The Go To Food Podcast

• Mitch Tonks - The Rise & Fall Of His 'FishWorks' Empire - Curry Nights With Johnny Depp & How He Changed Seafood in Britain Forever!

  Mitch Tonks didn’t start out as a chef. He was a 27-year-old dad trying to make ends meet when a fishmonger’s shop in Bath changed the course of his life. In this episode, Mitch shares the real, often chaotic, journey behind his seafood empire—from sleeping on a futon above his first restaurant to serving curry to Johnny Depp. He recalls the early inspiration he found in European markets, the fish counters of Harrods, and even a Paul Weller track that convinced him to never return to his office job.Mitch talks us through the highs and lows of founding FishWorks, the award-winning restaurant chain that made him a press darling—and nearly broke him. He opens up about the moment it all imploded after a disastrous IPO, and how that failure led to the creation of Rockfish, a coastal group of restaurants rooted in sustainability, direct supply chains, and deep respect for the fishermen who catch his product. He also describes how a COVID-era gamble to sell fish off the back of a boat in Brixham sparked a thriving nationwide delivery business.We also hear about Mitch’s life behind the scenes—long lunches that turned into overnight adventures, cooking side-by-side with his son Ben at the Seahorse, and why he keeps a stash of armagnac on hand for hangovers and inspiration alike. It’s a conversation packed with honesty, humour, and hard-won lessons from someone who’s spent three decades reshaping how Britain sees fish.-----------------Please leave us a great rating and a comment and share it with your friends - it really helps us grow as a show.If you're in the industry and are looking for the greatest POS system in the world than look no further as Blinq are tearing up the rulebook—no long-term contracts, no hidden fees, and no per-device charges.Just £49 a month for unlimited devices and 24/7 UK-based support that’s always there, in person when you need it.Built for hospitality, by hospitality, blinq is the fastest, easiest POS system on the market—so intuitive, anyone can use it. And while others take weeks to get you up and running, with blinq, you’re live in just 2 hours.Join the hospitality revolution today & use the code GOTOBLINQ to get your first month free - https://blinqme.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Kirk Haworth - Creating The First Michelin Star Plant Based Restaurant In The UK - Surviving The Rigours Of The French Laundry & Why Head Chef's Need To Stop Bullying Their Staff!

  This week on Mise En Place, we’re coming to you straight from Plates, the UK’s first Michelin-starred, plant-based restaurant. At the helm is executive chef Kirk Haworth, a Great British Menu champion and one of the country’s most forward-thinking culinary minds. In this unmissable episode, Kirk dishes on the behind-the-scenes drama of Great British Menu, his award-winning dessert that’s still on the menu, and how he creates next-level dishes using only plants — no gluten, no refined sugar, and absolutely no shortcuts.But it’s not just about food. Kirk opens up about his harrowing seven-year battle with undiagnosed Lyme disease — a journey that pushed him to the edge, cost him tens of thousands in treatment, and ultimately led him to completely rethink how he cooks, eats, and lives. From moments of total despair to the healing power of a plant-based lifestyle, Kirk shares the deeply personal story that transformed him from fine-dining prodigy to wellness-driven chef-entrepreneur. We also hear about his award winning restaurant Plates a dream destination for food lovers and his incredible innovative creations.Plus, we dig into the madness of Michelin kitchens, life lessons from his legendary dad Nigel Haworth to Phil Howards The Square & The French Laundry, and what it really takes to build a progressive restaurant from pop-up to global acclaim. He names the worst customer he’s ever had, the one dish that’s on too many menus, and what’s next on his mission for two stars. All that, plus a very special ‘Go-To’ Hall of Fame induction and Kirk’s ultimate foodie weekend. Don’t miss this raw, revealing, and deeply inspiring conversation — only on Mise En Place.-------Please leave us a great rating and a comment and share it with your friends - it really helps us grow as a show.If you're in the industry and are looking for the greatest POS system in the world than look no further as Blinq are tearing up the rulebook—no long-term contracts, no hidden fees, and no per-device charges.Just £49 a month for unlimited devices and 24/7 UK-based support that’s always there, in person when you need it.Built for hospitality, by hospitality, blinq is the fastest, easiest POS system on the market—so intuitive, anyone can use it. And while others take weeks to get you up and running, with blinq, you’re live in just 2 hours.Join the hospitality revolution today & use the code GOTOBLINQ to get your first month free - https://blinqme.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Daniel Clifford - The Madness Of Marco Pierre-White - Falling Victim To A £28k Wine Scam & Peter Jones's Dinner Party Chaos!

  Brace yourself for a riotous ride through the highs, lows, and absolute madness of Michelin-level cooking with the one and only Daniel Clifford, chef-owner of the legendary Midsummer House. In this epic episode of The Go-To Food Podcast, Daniel talks candidly about winning (and fearing the loss of) his stars, why he still shows up for every service after 21 years, and how a surprise phone call from Michelin left him literally dropping the phone in disbelief.From getting scammed out of £28,000 in wine by a fake Premier League footballer to cooking a 12-course private dinner in Peter Jones' house (and accidentally triggering the sprinklers mid-service), Daniel shares outrageous behind-the-scenes tales that are equal parts hilarious and jaw-dropping. He reminisces about working under Marco Pierre White, sleeping in kitchens, cutting himself mid-service, and sneaking Harvey’s chef jackets. There are deeply moving reflections too—on fatherhood, burnout, and why lockdown gave him his first proper family Easter.We also dive into Daniel’s love of classical French cooking, the joy of lunch at Stockholm’s Frantzén (and that unforgettable truffle toast), his secret kebab obsession, and the next-generation chef he's quietly training—his own stepson. Raw, funny, and packed with heart, this is a must-watch for anyone who cares about the real stories behind the food. If you’ve ever wanted to know what it really takes to earn, keep, and grow a Michelin-starred restaurant—this is it.------Please leave us a great rating and a comment and share it with your friends - it really helps us grow as a show.If you're in the industry and are looking for the greatest POS system in the world than look no further as Blinq are tearing up the rulebook—no long-term contracts, no hidden fees, and no per-device charges.Just £49 a month for unlimited devices and 24/7 UK-based support that’s always there, in person when you need it.Built for hospitality, by hospitality, blinq is the fastest, easiest POS system on the market—so intuitive, anyone can use it. And while others take weeks to get you up and running, with blinq, you’re live in just 2 hours.Join the hospitality revolution today & use the code GOTOBLINQ to get your first month free - https://blinqme.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Jess Shadbolt - Creating One Of New York's Most Loved Restaurants - The Advantages Of A Full Female Kitchen & Squeezing Bill Clinton's Ass!

  In this week’s Go-To Mise en Place, we sit down with the brilliant Jess Shadbolt—co-founder of King and Jupiter, two of New York’s most adored restaurants—for a wide-ranging conversation full of warmth, wit, and wild stories. From serving Michelle Obama and Bill Clinton, to launching a restaurant with no cash but a fridge full of free samples, Jess opens up about the joyful madness of hospitality and the magic of doing things your own way.We chat about the pressures of Midtown versus the intimacy of Downtown, why her pasta with chicken livers flopped at one place and became a cult hit at the other, and how she and her all-female kitchen cultivate collaboration over ego. Jess also shares her go-to haunts in Brooklyn, why Sunday roasts are her “culinary diplomacy,” and how a quiet obsession with the perfect beans and vinaigrette turned into a five-year cookbook project.Whether you’re in the industry or just someone who dreams of opening a bistro with your best mate, this episode is full of stories that’ll make you laugh, gasp, and maybe rethink your croissant choice too.--------Please leave us a great rating and a comment and share it with your friends - it really helps us grow as a show.If you're in the industry and are looking for the greatest POS system in the world than look no further as Blinq are tearing up the rulebook—no long-term contracts, no hidden fees, and no per-device charges.Just £49 a month for unlimited devices and 24/7 UK-based support that’s always there, in person when you need it.Built for hospitality, by hospitality, blinq is the fastest, easiest POS system on the market—so intuitive, anyone can use it. And while others take weeks to get you up and running, with blinq, you’re live in just 2 hours.Join the hospitality revolution today & use the code GOTOBLINQ to get your first month free - https://blinqme.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Eric Huang - The Dark Secrets Of New York's Elite Kitchens, Creating Viral Fried Chicken With A 20,000 + Wait List & Why Michelin Has Become CORRUPT!

  This week, we’re joined by Eric Huang—Queens native, Juilliard-trained cellist, and the chef behind Pecking House, New York’s cult fried chicken sensation. In a wild ride of an episode, Eric walks us through his transformation from classical musician to Michelin-level chef, dishing on brutal kitchen culture, racial dynamics in fine dining, and the unexpected pandemic pivot that made his chicken world-famous.He opens up about being hospitalized from stress the same day Eleven Madison Park was crowned the world’s best restaurant, and how stepping away from the obsession with stars helped him find purpose in wok-fried lettuce, family roots, and feeding people real food.From stir-fried nostalgia to viral password-only menus, Eric's story is one of grit, grace, and gastronomic reinvention. Plus: his go-to NYC haunts, the “curse” of success, and why buffalo wings might just be the perfect starter.Recorded in London during his residency at Carousel and The Standard Hotel. Don’t miss this one.-------Please leave us a great rating and a comment and share it with your friends - it really helps us grow as a show.If you're in the industry and are looking for the greatest POS system in the world than look no further as Blinq are tearing up the rulebook—no long-term contracts, no hidden fees, and no per-device charges.Just £49 a month for unlimited devices and 24/7 UK-based support that’s always there, in person when you need it.Built for hospitality, by hospitality, blinq is the fastest, easiest POS system on the market—so intuitive, anyone can use it. And while others take weeks to get you up and running, with blinq, you’re live in just 2 hours.Join the hospitality revolution today & use the code GOTOBLINQ to get your first month free - https://blinqme.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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