Wednesday the 3rd of February 2010

 

The phones are currently quiet, and yet, we have put three adverts onto the website today and Lindsey has placed two relief jobs out. Five hits for a quiet day, so not complaining.

 

Enough about us and that pleasing statistic and let us dwell upon some very positive feedback about the many excellent chefs in Scotland, working away.

 

Johan Sikkema has a solid Scottish pedigree since working in Scotland, first of all at Craigellachie Hotel on Speyside with fellow Dutch chef and three times Grampian chef of The Year, Addy Daggert. Johan then worked over at Ballachulish Hotel just north of Glencoe on the west coast with, I am guessing, Head Chef James Scott. Back over to the east coast to Banchory Lodge hotel where he bumped into and worked with Scottish chef Vytis Baltrunas amongst others. Interestingly, Banchory Lodge are one of the three establishments within Scotland to place an advert today, a good sign. Then onto Muckrach Lodge Hotel alongside head chef Ian Fraser for a couple of years before doing some relief work over the last 8 months or so via Chefs In Scotland.

 

And what a success Johan has been. Get a football team, call if Scotland and sign him up quickly. Currently, with three establishments all keen to sign him, all placements undertaken via Chefs In Scotland. How good is that to have Johan Sikkema playing for your side. Well done and thanks Johan.

 

Elsewhere, any permanent placements to gloat about that have taken firm rooting?

 

Seven in last week and two so far this week, but too close to the time to mention any names and put a jinx on them, so I will look down memory lane to 2005 when we were in our third year at the offices in Wentworth Street on Skye, which sadly still sit empty since we shut down our work there last June.

 

The first thing to note upon looking back five years is how quickly the time has gone.

 

Peter Doherty took a chef de partie job at The Italian kitchen in the heart of Glasgow, stayed the course I believe.

 

Emin Barinov from Estonia was an excellent placement at Norton House Hotel at Ingliston by Edinburgh and stayed for several years. Feedback from Graeme Shaw, the Head Chef, was always very good. Not sure where Emin is now but I am sure that he will have done well.

 

Greg Nelson started at The Hebridean Princess and almost completed the season before heading down south. Greg pitched up on Skye a couple of years back, worked a few weeks on relief at The Cuillin Hills Hotel, overlooking the bay and was, if I am not mistaken, offered  full-time position by Head Chef Robert MacAskill. A tad too far from Fife and family for Greg, but he enjoyed his time there. Last heard of working down in London.

 

Two quick phone calls in succession. Paul Waters, now part of the Magic Fifteen, due to ten years of long, devoted service to the cause! One other, a chef on the move, so no names, call him Tom!

 

Back to 2005, are we really in 2010?

 

Paul Hodgeson shows up. Our first ever sous chef placement in 2000 at The Argyll in Inveraray with Derek Classe and Bernadine Delaney who have long sold up. Paul was there for a couple of seasons working alongside the late Iain White. I think we have got Paul two jobs over the years, the other being at Taychreggan in Argyll at Kilchrennan, where he again stayed, this time for I think about three years. He may yet surface this year.

 

Was it really five years since Simon Burns moved up from Greywalls in Gullane to Forres to work at The Classroom in Nairn? Simon is now working away at The Dowans with sous chef David Cameron.

 

Yes, James Scott shows up as being placed 1st of April 2005 at Ballachulish Hotel so that would tie in with the dates for Johan Sikkema.

 

And what of relief work?

 

Still many chefs available and trickles of work coming in so not enough work, but with all the adverts on the go, work will pick up steadily as we move into February and the nights get lighter, soon be light enough for a game of golf after work at 5pm. Not this week though as I am on the midnight shift, the five thirty run and the Saturday slot between 10 and 12.30. I will find my reward next week when Emma and Lindsey will remain in charge of the ship as I head back up to Skye to do some painting and stripping of wallpaper at the company house in Portree.

 

Right, I have two of Emma’s references come through to be scanned.

 

It is twenty minutes to two on a cold February winter morning. Time to make a cup of green tea, take stock check emails and move on.

 

Many thanks for your continued support and patience

 

Michael in Moffat