Meet Ash

Meet Ash, who at just 24 worked his way up to become our Head Chef last year at The Concept Cafe at Lower Stretton.  Now 25, Ash is looking to the future and working on the new spring time Menu and is beginning his NVQ Level 3 in Hospitality and Catering, with the aspiration to help and train other students through their college catering courses.

As a young child Ash often helped out in his father’s Chip Shop in Winnington and this ignited his interest in becoming a chef. Ash has always seen his Dad as a role model, who at the young age of 20 bought the chip shop and has worked hard in there ever since. After leaving school Ash enrolled at Mid-Cheshire College in Hartford to study for his NVQ Levels 1 and 2 in Hospitality and Catering, and it was whilst there he saw an advert for a job at The Hollies Farm Shop. Ash started working over the weekends at the Concept Cafe, whilst still balancing college and working in his Dad’s Chippy! On finishing college he joined us full time, honing his skills learnt at college and says he has loved watching how the company has grown over the time he’s been there.

Ash has a passion for Italian cooking – apparently he can cook those types of dishes with his eyes closed! His favourite dish on the Concept Cafe Menu is Luccio’s Crab Ravioli served in a creamy white sauce topped with prawns and parmesan. Ash enjoys working at The Hollies, and feels lucky that he is able to use the delicious products from both the Farm Shop and the Butchery to create daily specials that add something extra onto the exceptional food offering in the Concept Cafe.