Amber Francis, Head Chef and Senior Food Educator

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY!

*Although the podcast states that today is National Women’s Day, it’s INTERNATIONAL Women’s Day so excuse my mistake!

Today we are celebrating fantastic female leadership throughout the food and hospitality industry. One woman in particular caught my eye, someone who is proving that progression and meaningful success are not the same for everyone. Another thing that she told me is that a love of trying new food is not always ingrained from birth, but something we all need to learn. That woman is Amber Francis.

If you’re a chef in a fine dining kitchen, you’ve most definitely had some tough critics. If you’re a member of the front of house, you’ve most definitely had to formulate a polite response to negative comments. Now you try serving 600 school kids within a 30-minute lunch window and see what reactions you get. Oh, and your budget is 90p.

Hailing from a fine dining background working for legends like Robin Gill to opening restaurants such as Maene and Bermondsey Larder, Amber Francis has made an exciting step within the gargantuan food industry. She is now heading the catering department at a school in North London as their head chef and senior food educator. Amber’s career so far prepared her to tackle challenges within her new role; her extensive culinary education, and working under the pressure of new openings with brand-new kitchens and systems.

Amber is brilliant and intelligent, she excelled academically when she was younger and now utilises those skills in her culinary career pathway. She and I discussed the mixed excitement and heartbreak when choosing your career pathways. We talk about the transition from learning and note-taking in class, to putting all that knowledge into action. And then once you learn an abundance of skills, how do you then teach others? What kind of manager will you be?

Amber has been a bright bulb within the industry, aiming to aid and inspire those around her - from her team creating a tasting menu to developing the tastebuds of children at school.

I am Stella and I’m gonna take you out for dinner.

Mentions:

• Tom Kerridge

https://tomkerridge.com

• The Hand and Flowers, Marlow

https://www.thehandandflowers.co.uk

• Chez Bruce, Wandsworth

https://www.chezbruce.co.uk

• Specialised Chefs Apprenticeship Scholarship, Bournemouth College

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjs5KCt_OKEAxVESEEAHfWWDUoQFnoECCYQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecollege.co.uk%2Fcourses%2Fspecialised-chefs-apprenticeship-scholarship&usg=AOvVaw3XpppZ-KnG8zhaBuu9VVZS&opi=89978449

• The Ritz, Mayfair
• Dan Barber

https://www.instagram.com/chefdanbarber/

• The French Laundry, San Fransisco

https://www.thomaskeller.com/tfl

• Robin Gill

https://www.greatbritishchefs.com/chefs/robin-gill

• Le Manoir, Oxford

https://www.belmond.com/hotels/europe/uk/oxfordshire/belmond-le-manoir-aux-quat-saisons/

• Brawn, Columbia Road

https://www.brawn.co

• Zebra Riding Club, Birch, Selsdon (closed permanently)
• Maene, Shoreditch (closed permanently)

https://www.maenerestaurant.co.uk

• Home Hospitality

https://www.instagram.com/_homehospitality?igsh=MTRqcGR5dWx1aXFiaQ==

• Chefs in Schools

https://chefsinschools.org.uk

• The Dairy, Clapham (permanently closed)
• Bermondsey Larder (permanently closed)