The Secret List

Our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Secret List⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ chat with Jack Stein on St. Ives Beach during the food festival. As Chef Director of Rick Stein Restaurants, Jack oversees all kitchen operations across the celebrated family empire that's marking its 50th anniversary this year. Having started as a 14-year-old kitchen porter in 1994, Jack brings a lifetime of experience and deep Cornwall connections to our conversation.Jack shares his favourite eating and drinking spots, his producer recommendations spotlighting family businesses with deep Cornwall roots and concludes with an unexpected insider tip about Cornwall's emerging bluefin tuna catch-and-release experiences. With characteristic Stein enthusiasm, Jack provides a perfect blend of established favourites and emerging discoveries across Cornwall's vibrant food landscape.Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Secret List⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for links to everything featured in this episode.And remember to follow us to be the first to listen to our latest episodes.

Our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Secret List⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ chat with Kattie Rosser, a Marazion-based wine expert who works with Enotria and Coe, importing exceptional wines from around the world. As someone with a professional palate and deep appreciation for Cornwall’s food and drink scene, Kattie offers invaluable insights into where locals truly love to dine and unwind.Her restaurant recommendations blend quality with a refreshingly informal approach, and for drinks, she gravitates toward authentic experiences and live music or unbeatable sea views, where a glass of bubbly comes with panoramic vistas of St. Michael’s Mount.🪨 Kattie reveals one of Cornwall’s most magical yet overlooked experiences. This glimpse into Cornwall’s more spiritual side offers a perfect counterpoint to the region’s celebrated culinary landscape.Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Secret List⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for links to everything featured in this episode.And remember to follow us to be the first to listen to our latest episodes.

Our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Secret List⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ chat with this entertaining culinary duo during the St. Ives Food Festival. Rose Cant (better known online as “Mum on Muddy Lane”) brings her relatable, home-cooking style to food festivals, focusing on dishes anyone can recreate at home. Alongside her, Eddy Rains heads the kitchen at the Halfway House gastropub between Weybridge and Padstow, where he’s become known for exceptional steak despite Cornwall’s seafood reputation.Our beachside conversation reveals their favourite spots around Padstow and Rock. Both share their go-to drinking establishments – Rose’s beloved “cupboard of dreams” wine bar (home to the memorably-named “Fizzy Bum Bum”), and Eddy’s preference for the authentic Cornish atmosphere of The Harbour Inn.❤️‍🩹 Beyond food, they offer insider tips that should be “on the NHS for mental health”. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Secret List⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for links to everything featured in this episode.And remember to follow us to be the first to listen to our latest episodes.

Our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Secret List⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ chat with Hairy, the charismatic force behind Vicky’s Bread alongside his wife Vicky Harford, delivering artisanal sourdough to the finest independent shops, cafes, and restaurants across Devon and Cornwall for nearly two decades. When we caught up with him at the Porthleven Food Festival, where he curates the Food and Farming tent, his no-nonsense approach to bread and business was immediately apparent.A passionate champion of traditional baking methods – “You do it how it was meant to be made. No additives”, Hairy embodies the authentic spirit of Cornwall’s independent food scene. Beyond baking, he’s a fierce advocate for small producers, personally selecting only Cornish vendors for both the Porthleven Food Festival and Royal Cornwall Show. His commitment extends to supporting emerging talent, sometimes offering reduced rates to help newcomers gain exposure.🥖 With strong opinions on everything from the “desert” created by supermarket culture to the extraordinary walks of West Cornwall, Hairy offers a refreshingly unfiltered perspective on Cornwall’s food landscape, celebrating the madness and creativity that makes the region’s independent food scene truly special.Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Secret List⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for links to everything featured in this episode.And remember to follow us to be the first to listen to our latest episodes.

Our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Secret List⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ chat with Mick Smith, the culinary heart behind the acclaimed Porthminster Cafe in St Ives, a stunning beachfront restaurant he’s helmed for over 20 years.Originally from Australia, Mick “stumbled across St Ives with a backpack” 24 years ago and never left, transforming from backpacker to respected restaurateur. His ocean-to-plate philosophy shines through his seafood-focused menu, complemented by ingredients from the restaurant’s own vegetable garden and foraged seaweeds from the surrounding coastline.🦞 When we watched Mick’s cookery demonstration on the beach during the St Ives Food Festival, it was memorably interrupted by a local fisherman who arrived by boat directly onto the sand, delivering fresh shellfish straight to Mick mid-cooking demonstration – a perfect illustration of the immediate connection between ocean and plate that defines his cooking.Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Secret List⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for links to everything featured in this episode.And remember to follow us to be the first to listen to our latest episodes.

Our ⁠⁠⁠⁠Secret List⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ chat with Dan Dan the Lobster Man, the heart behind one of Porthleven's most authentic seafood experiences. As a local fisherman, Dan takes "boat to plate" to its purest form, catching the lobster and crab served at his quayside shack. Dan Dan has become a beloved fixture on Porthleven's quay, operating from a converted shipping container with breathtaking harbour views. Dan's commitment to sustainability and freshness has earned him a devoted following among locals and tourists alike, who flock to enjoy his signature seafood platters, crab sandwiches, and lobster tails. 🦞 With minimal fuss and maximum flavour, Dan Dan embodies the authentic spirit of Cornwall's fishing heritage, offering seafood that makes the short journey from morning catch to midday plate with barely a detour in between.Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Secret List⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for links to everything featured in this episode.And remember to follow us to be the first to listen to our latest episodes.

Our ⁠⁠⁠Secret List⁠⁠⁠⁠ chat with Tom Brown, one of Britain's most innovative seafood chefs, born in Cornwall.Tom's culinary journey took him to London where he headed Outlaw's at The Capital before striking out on his own in 2018 with Cornerstone in Hackney Wick, which earned a coveted Michelin star in 2021. Known for his creative yet stripped-back approach that lets quality ingredients speak for themselves, Tom has since expanded his restaurant portfolio with Pearly Queen in Spitalfields and Tom Brown at the Capital. 🦪 With his distinctive style balancing simplicity and innovation, Tom represents the best of modern British cooking while maintaining strong connections to his Cornish roots and sustainable seafood philosophy.Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Secret List⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for links to everything featured in this episode.And remember to follow us to be the first to listen to our latest episodes.

Our ⁠⁠Secret List⁠⁠⁠ chat with Paul Welburn, acclaimed Michelin-starred chef who has recently made Cornwall his new home.Yorkshire-born Paul brings decades of culinary excellence to our shores, having trained under legendary mentors including Gary Rhodes and Richard Corrigan before leading prestigious kitchens across the UK. From London's The Gherkin and Rhodes W1 to The Oxford Kitchen where he earned his Michelin star, and most recently The Swan Inn in Oxfordshire.Known for his "flavoursome, clean and seasonal" cooking style, Paul creates British dishes with a modern twist that showcase the very best local ingredients while maintaining his signature perfectionist approach—skills honed from his earliest days in Scarborough and refined in some of the country's most demanding kitchens.After transforming Oxfordshire's culinary scene, Paul has embarked on an exciting new chapter in Cornwall, drawn by both personal connections and the exceptional quality of Cornish ingredients that align perfectly with his cooking philosophy.🍽️ A masterful chef bringing his refined talent and passion for British produce to Cornwall's vibrant food landscape.Visit ⁠⁠⁠The Secret List⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for links to everything featured in this episode.And remember to follow us to be the first to listen to our latest episodes.

Our ⁠Secret List⁠⁠ chat with Chris Eden, award-winning Executive Head Chef at Watergate Bay Hotel in Cornwall and the first Cornishman to earn a Michelin star in Cornwall.Born and raised in St Austell, Chris has come full circle—from surfing at Watergate Bay in his youth to now leading its culinary vision across Zacry's, The Living Space, and The Beach Hut with his distinctive "unfussy" approach to fine dining.After honing his craft in prestigious London kitchens including The Lanesborough and The Square, Chris returned to Cornwall where he earned his first Michelin star at Driftwood, maintaining it for seven years. He later added another star to his achievements at Gidleigh Park in Devon before returning to his beloved Cornwall coast.With a deep commitment to showcasing the exceptional West Country produce, Chris creates dishes that tell the story of Cornwall while maintaining the perfect balance of approachability and culinary excellence.🍽️ A homegrown talent elevating Cornish cuisine with passion, precision, and a profound connection to place.Visit ⁠⁠The Secret List⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for links to everything featured in this episode.And remember to follow us to be the first to listen to our latest episodes.

Our Secret List⁠ chat with Ben Palmer, award-winning Chef and owner of The Sardine Factory and Yamas restaurants in Looe, Cornwall.A local at heart, Ben returned to his hometown in 2018 to fulfill his dream of opening a restaurant in the coastal community where he grew up, after honing his craft across prestigious kitchens in the UK and Europe.His exceptional culinary talent earned him a winning spot on BBC Two's Great British Menu 2024, creating the standout starter for the Parisian banquet. The Sardine Factory received the coveted Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2019 and has proudly maintained this distinguished recognition ever since.With a commitment to seasonal sourcing and local production, Ben crafts dishes that celebrate Cornwall's exceptional ingredients while supporting the community he calls home.🐟 A hometown hero elevating Looe's dining scene with passion and precision.Visit ⁠⁠The Secret List⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠for links to everything featured in this episode.And remember to follow us to be the first to listen to our latest episodes.