News

Tapas in Spain

That’s me just home from a long weekend in Estepona where I lived for ten years. I was visiting friends and family and I must say it felt great to be there in the easy going way of life and very Spanish culture. On Saturday, we went out for lunch and I had traditional Spanish croquetas which are made from a thick white sauce with different fillings, the ones we had were beef cheek and the others ham and cheese. We also had lots of nice cheeses, hams, padron peppers and of course a bottle of white rioja to wash it all down. That evening we went to the feria which is the Spanish fair which is held in the evenings for a week once a year. Most of the town closes during this time and it is when people take a lot of their holidays. As it is so hot we did not go out till around 9pm and the atmosphere was buzzing. Lots of little bars and stalls selling different tapas. Some of the tents are private and people pay into them all year round such as the council companies like water and electricity, however most of them allow entry for all. We found one at the back which was showcasing the polo ponies and they had great (very large) gins and a BBQ going with pinchitos (chicken skewers) and morcilla (a spanish black pudding) and it was so cheap. A great night out made even more eventful by the botellon going on in the car park at 1am when we were leaving. This is basically where people get together and have a drink and socialise in public areas. No hassle at all just lots of people about.

On Sunday we frequented my favourite fish restaurant situated right on the beach. We have been going there for the last 15 years and it is a family run restaurant which has its own fishing boat. We had a variety of dishes including gallo which is john dory and it is lightly battered and so tender and light, calamari a la plancha which is a whole squid on the grill with garlic and parsley as well as clams, and traditional calamari also. After this we headed to the ice-cream parlour for lovely ice-cream and headed home to relax by the pool.

The other days I mostly had BBQ food as it was 30 degrees and too hot to eat anything else.

It was a lovely break but now it’s time to get back to chef recruitment. Still a lot of head chef vacancies being registered daily. Please email your CV to jessica@chefsinscotland.co.uk if you are looking for a new role.

Jessica

Out and about 7th July 2017

This week we have 79 relief chefs out working in Scotland.

Relief has been a bit of a struggle this week but we have still managed to get 20 chefs out with a day to go and I would hope to get at least another 5 out today.

There is plenty of jobs still needing filled and they are all over Scotland (Skye, Inverness-shire, Perthshire, Edinburgh, Lochaber, Argyll and Ross-shire)

Rates of pay £12.50 - £17 per hour – for a minimum of 8 hours per day – accommodation provided at no charge – return travelling expenses paid subject to completing the agreed work stint.

Out recently and now

Pawel Halicki has just finished at The Summer Isles Hotel.

Bruce Robertson is back on the relief circuit and is up in Ullapool at The Arch Inn (Welcome back Bruce)

Mick Kitson was in Ballater at The Rothesay Rooms Restaurant.

Chris Roberti has now finished at Cross Keys in Kelso as relief head chef.

New relief chef Steven Sinclair is at The Parkdean Holiday resort in Dornoch.

Chris Daily is in Fort William at The Geographer.

Leslie Kehoe was back working at The Cressfield Hotel.

Pawel Cimek is at The Old Mill Inn in Pitlochry.

Yousef Shengheer is at Victoria’s Restaurant in Pitlochry.

Kirsty Hamilton was at Glengarry Castle and is now at The Pierhouse in Port Appin.

Sarah Pozzi is still in Uist at The Dark Island Hotel.

Douglas Gillies is at Gartmore House in Stirlingshire.

Tim Morris has been extended at The Three Lemons.

Szabby Verten is still at The Scalloway Hotel in Shetland.

Thanks Girls and Guys for all of your hard work and support.

  Out and about Friday 30th June

We have 74 relief chefs out working, this is up by 14 on last year.

Relief has been very busy as you would expect for the time of year.

We are keen for all relief chefs out working to update us with finish dates and any availability you may have.

We are also still happy to meet chefs at our office in Moffat and we are available most days either at 11am or 2pm just get in touch to check our availability.

Plenty adverts coming in if you are interested in any of the positions on our website please either apply direct to the establishment or email recruitment with the job reference number. You can also register for CIS for chefs please follow the link http://www.chefsinscotland.co.uk/content/account/

We can also help with updating / writing CV’s.

Out and about

Stuart Palmer finished his 9^th week at SU Scotland near Kinross.

Daniel Haig is currently over in Mull at the Western Isles Hotel.

Lillian Clarkson is at Laroch Restaurant in Ballachulish.

Sara-Jayne Moffat is coming to the end of her 4 week stint at The Pier House in Port Appin.

David Ironside is at the Links Hotel.

Paul Sellers is at Moffat House.

Don Craig is at Tigh an Eilean Hotel in Shieldaig.

Kai Stutzkeitz and Lauren McConnell are both at Caladh Inn in Stornoway.

Ally Elder has just completed Onich Hotel.

Fraser Dingwall is at The Lerwick Hotel.

Sean Abernethy is at The Links Hotel.

Alan Kaye is at Glensander over by Oban.

Gareth Connelly is at Craigmonie Hotel.

Marthius Mwina is staying for the season at Glen Nevis Restaurant.

This is just to name a few.

Thanks for everyone’s continued support and hardwork.

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