How it all began

A couple of weeks ago Paul Goodfellow asked if I would be interested in writing a blog for his new website. Now, the fact that I owe the great start I had to my career to Paul meant this was a no brainer for me, the only trouble I have with blogging is what to blog about! In the past when I wrote my own blog, it was all about setting up the restaurant. However, that ship has now long sailed, so the suggestion was that I start the blog with how it all began!

A Young Simon

So let’s rewind to 1991 and a young Simon Mckenzie was accepted into Monkwearmouth College in his hometown of Sunderland.

My father was a catering manager at the local hospitals and had found this new supplier (at that time based in Hetton – Le – Hole) and so instead of being issued with knives and whites from the college nominated supplier, I was driven over to this little factory unit in the depths of a little run down mining village and this Aladdin’s cave of equipment, knives and uniforms with Paul in the middle of it!

I was kitted out with all I would need for the first year of college and proudly donned my whites with name blazing in blue embroidery on the first day, immediately standing out, not only from my peers but also my lecturers alike; how I didn’t end up getting a pasting for that alone I’ll never know!!!

Fast forward 12 months and the first day of the second year at college and the lecturers all turn up in whites freshly embroidered by Paul! Later this year I would learn to drive and pass my test, which meant after college I would pop by to see Paul in the tiny warehouse and listen eagerly to stories of all these great London hotels and restaurants he would have visited recently and the chefs he was chatting to! I also remember building my knife set up with each visit and often Paul would unlock the padlock on the old beaten wooden wardrobe storing all the Wusthof knives and always grabbing something to add to the collection! I do wonder what happened to that wardrobe.

Later, towards the end of college life, my main (and probably only) competition, Alan O’Kane (now of The Black Swan at Helmsley) came marching into the kitchen, smug as you like and straight up to me saying “so where yay off tee wen we done ere like man” (remember we are very northern!) I replied I didn’t know and hadn’t really thought about it to which he replied, “wye I’ve got me self a job doon at the Savoy like man so gannin there as soon as we done here like, ya should come doon wif us man!”

Little Leather Book

Now anyone who knows me will know how keen my competitive edge is and this fired it up on all cylinders! As soon as college was over I was first out and into the beaten up yellow polo I had bought and off to see Paul! Arriving, I dashed into the office and said, “Alan’s got a position at the Savoy, I need interviews in London!”

Kettle on and a little leather book of business cards unfolded, and by the time the tea had cooled I had listened, jaw dropped, as Paul had spoken to Paul Gayler, (the Lanesborough), Willie Elsner, (the Dorchester) and David Nicholls, (the Ritz) and had secured me interviews in all three!!

The only commitment required from me was not to let him down as he had helped someone in the past like this and they hadn’t lasted and I was solemnly warned that this would end our relationship if I didn’t do my time. I promised I wouldn’t let him down!

A few weeks later I was on the train to London with my Dad and completed all 3 interviews in a day, by the time the train pulled back into Durham station I had my heart set on the Lanesborough!
Gayler had been away on holiday so I had been interviewed and showed around by Chris Galvin, Paul’s Executive Sous Chef and he had blown me away. At that point the Lanesborough was a little over a year old and shone and sparkled with polished silver cloches and trolleys down what seemed like endless corridors!

The Lanesborough was an incredibly tough environment straight from college but also an amazing place to work and I loved every minute of it! I met some great chefs, some at the beginning of their own careers, some more senior; a lot of which I am still in contact with today.

A Cut Above

So there we have it, how my career got a massive kick start from Paul Goodfellow and how I owe so much to him, without them phone calls in that tiny “office” I dare say I may not have landed that opportunity and since then Paul has always taken a keen interest in my career. He has been there for advice and guidance throughout all of my steps from my very first role, to where to go next.

I haven’t mentioned that throughout it all, Paul & his team over the years has been my ‘go to’ supplier. Goodfellow & Goodfellow are a cut above anyone else, not only in product selection and service but they also care about me as a person. That’s never changed since the first day I walked through the door!