Profile of Emma and John
Profile of Emma:-
From an early age all Emma wanted to do was become a chef. Her ambition was realised at the age of 17 when she gained her chefs’ qualifications. Emma’s first job was a year at The Arundel Hotel in Cambridge.
This was followed by work abroad at various establishments in Southern Italy and Switzerland. On her return to the UK Emma took a position in what was recognised by many as the best restaurant in Cambridge, Midsummer House. It was here, under the guidance of Chef Hans Schweitzer, that Emma realised that she wanted to concentrate on fine dining. It was also here that she met the man she was to marry, John. After 4 years at Midsummer House she became the head chef and it was time for a new challenge.
Once again foreign climes beckoned, this time the destination was Barbados, to the former 3 star restaurant, La Maison. After one year, during which she had regained the restaurant’s 3 star status, it was back to England and London.
Grabbed by Stephen Bull, Emma turned her attention first to the Pastry section. Two years later, following stints on the fish, meat and sauce sections, she was promoted to Sous Chef, and once again it was time to move on.
The next move was to Gordon Ramsey and Marcus Waring at La Oranger where she helped them to gain their first Michelin star. Then on to Sally Clarke in Kensington, followed by a spell as Head Chef at Nicole’s on Bond Street.
In May 2000 Emma realised another dream and, with John, opened The Crooked Billet in Newton Longville. Awards have flooded in for Emma’s “Bold & Gutsy”, “Innovative food” & her determination to use the very best local ingredients.
Buckinghamshire Best Restaurant for 5 years - The Foodie Guide
Milton Keynes Restaurant of the Year – MK News
The UK’s Top 50 Restaurants – The Independant Guide and
10 years inclusion in all the national restaurant and pub guides.
Profile of John:-
John began his career as an accountant, but soon came to hate every minute of being stuck in an isolated office. His first move into the world of catering came with a spell waiting on top table at Trinity Hall College in Cambridge. After three months he moved to The Cambridge Lodge Hotel where he was promoted year on year until four and a half years later he took over as Assistant Hotel Manager. It was here that John became interested in wine and gained his Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) certificate 1. He was then head hunted for the position of General Manager at the Blue Boar Bar and Restaurant where he spent two successful years. This was followed by a years break from catering with the completion of the WSET Diploma. Then John was approached to work at Midsummer House, his first position as a Sommelier and where he met Emma. After five years and receiving the Mondavi award for the best wine list and best wine list by the glass in the UK, John moved abroad, to The Sandy Lane Hotel Barbados, one of the top 10 hotels in the world.
Returning to the UK John spent a year with Nico Landenis, 18 months at the Berkeley, and 12 months at Scotts in Mayfair. Then he was off again, head hunted by Raffles Hotel of Singapore. They needed someone to produce the best wine list in the world and thought that John was their ideal man. The awards flooded in: The Mondavi award for the best wine list by the glass in the world, The Good Food Guide Best wine list in the UK, Wine Spectators Award of Excellence, Decanter Award for the best UK wine list, Harpers best wine list in the UK, Wine magazines best wine list in the world, and Carlton Televisions UK Best Wine List and Sommelier of the Year.
Then it was time to open his own restaurant, The Crooked Billet, with Emma, and here the awards continue: Harpers & Queen Sommelier of the Year, Moët e Chandon Sommelier of the Year, Les Routiers Best Wine List in Central England, and The Good Pub Guide Wine Pub of the Year.
