#109 - Hospitality Meets Emeline Gibert - The Executive Development Chef

Artwork for podcast Hospitality Meets... with Phil Street

Episode 109 • 27th April 2022 • Hospitality Meets... with Phil Street • Phil Street

00:00.00

philjstreet

Hello and welcome to the next episode of hospitality meets with me Phil street today. We're back in the kitchen and not only that we move into the world of contract catering today's guest has had a cracking career so far having worked in Dubai Spain. The us and now finds herself in London for 1 of the most recognizable catering brands that's sudexo and in their sodexo live business which covers off global events stadia and arenas to name but a few. It sounds like an incredible place to be so I am delighted to welcome their executive development shift Emeline Gibert. how are you? You are very very welcome. Where are you today where are we recording this very good.

00:38.79

Emeline

Hi Phil hi very good. Thanks for having me today. Ah, in London.

00:52.40

philjstreet

Very nice. Yeah, so you're obviously not at work at the moment. Um, but yeah I'm intrigued by the title of Executive Development Chef tell us what one of those does.

01:04.40

Emeline

All right? So Ah so that means anything related to offer development people. Development venue support such as measure events Chelsea flower show. Ah so many new business development Compliance procurement. So. It's a very varied role into a role and it's just fascinating very very fascinating Of course.

01:29.63

philjstreet

Yeah, sounds like it. Yeah D I Do you still cook good. Good good good. Excellent, good. Good. Good. Yeah well I mean let's just get to it. Let's go all the way back.

01:40.14

Emeline

Yeah, yeah.

01:47.91

philjstreet

To the beginning of your life career. How did you get into hospitality in the first place or when was the first moment where you thought yeah this is going to be the career for me.

01:56.78

Emeline

All right? So that's a funny one because actually I always enjoy cooking with my grandmother but my mom was not really a foodie and um and I was 15 and you know it's the time you have to make the decision of your lifetime which I think it's a bit young.

02:05.80

philjstreet

Okay.

02:13.34

philjstreet

Here here? yeah.

02:14.82

Emeline

And like like yeah like every kid you're like oh my god what I want to do and ah and then yeah was this conversation with my mom was like do you want to? do you want to be in a content. Do you want to go in 2 languages. Do you want to be in cells. Do you want to be an addresser. Do you want hospitality and that that was like oh. I would love to go into hospitality and I don't know where it came from and then I done my first year and I loved it. So my mom was like yeah you know and ah and yeah and this is when it's all started. So. It's not like you know it's yeah it just it's luck if I may a.

02:48.55

philjstreet

So you were you were quite young then when the it like because I I mean people come to it at all ages and all times and and all of that sort of thing I've spoken to so many people on this podcast now.

02:53.87

Emeline

Yep.

03:04.40

philjstreet

And it varies so wildly and it's only really a very small handful of people who know very quickly that yeah this is this is going to be the place for me. So I mean you know I suppose you're one of the lucky ones.

03:07.74

Emeline

Um, ah.

03:16.33

Emeline

Yeah I am yeah so John I joined that cooking school so I done ah 4 years into culinary school then was amazing. Got me too Diploma. Ah, what was great about that school. It's. The the first year you kind of do both you do frontn of the house and back of the house. Ah so its its give you you know you you can choose what what you you feel? best. But obviously I choose cooking. But what was great. It's understanding. You know how frontn of the house works.

03:42.24

philjstreet

Yeah.

03:50.81

Emeline

Ah, so that so that was great then the second year you only doing cooking and then the third year you go back again. Front of the house with like you know once a month and then most of it in the cooking. But once again, it's like the evolution and really understanding. What's your colleague going through um and.

04:05.26

philjstreet

Yeah, yeah.

04:08.90

Emeline

During those 4 years as well I did about thirty two weeks of training into different establishment. So I did you know some fine dining traditional restaurant I work in Disneyland so that was great and as of front of the house so that was amazing. Ah yeah, oh no was what.

04:14.26

philjstreet

Wow.

04:22.50

philjstreet

God Well you have to have a personality for that. Don't you the the but.

04:28.84

Emeline

Yeah, it was great. It's ah like was a months and I was working in a special event when the the park is actually closed. So every day you come, you've got like a different adfi and um and it's it's good. It's good. It's. During that time as well. I always worked. You know as a waitress or a kitchen porter or you know like you know cleaning rooms try to make a bit of ah of money on the side and um and yeah, it makes you understand really what is our business and you know our industry. Um, so then I got my diploma. Ah, very very proud and I was like oh I need to learn english you know in english is the language like you know like I need to learn english I was like okay so I went to America as a for one year I was in ah in umhode island providence.

05:13.73

philjstreet

Um, okay.

05:20.65

Emeline

You know, wonderful family with 2 wonderful kids. Ah so gave me ah like a bit of a brack ah of hospitality but allow me to learn english um and see different things so I travel ah like a lot in ah in America as well on the you know weekend early days and ah my objective. In my life was to go back there as an exec chef I was like one day I will be back I will have my american dream like I will be you know cooking in ah in one of those restaurants and um, yeah, so finish my first year um as a nope came back home ah working a http://tableaudot.

05:40.96

philjstreet

Okay.

05:58.63

Emeline

For a couple of years and then I've done I've done everything in this tabler dot like I started to be fair and knock at the door I dropped my c years ago like I'm um, you know I'm a trained chef ah I'm speaking french english and they were like oh my god we have a wedding this weekend can can you help us out and this is when it's all started. And weirdly like I was in the kitchen with them. But I took care more of the pastry side. Ah, and then after a couple of years I move on to another restaurant as a past history chef. Ah so I think I was therefore about a year a I and a.

06:24.25

philjstreet

Okay, yep.

06:37.99

Emeline

And then I wanted to go in the bigger city and I was like in you train as a chef you know like you know now it's ah you know it's time to to progress so move to montperier in the south of France. Worked ah work in different restaurants and hanged up in ah in a restaurant which is really like nice title. It's like Moroaloon. So it's it's a piece of moon and yeah, it's ah work work there and I really enjoyed it because my boss was thinking outside the box.

06:58.51

philjstreet

Okay.

07:08.72

Emeline

She was really into ah like bio organic products. You know, like really different mix of flavors. Her husband was turkish so this is when it started all my infreences with spices and fresh herbs and um, you know thinking a bit like food outside the box. And and try to give like a a good experience. You know, like from something different that you see in monterier. Um, very proud like we won ah talking to go emilo at the time so I was ah I was like you know over the moon. Ah so stay there for about two years and a half and then you know it start to tinkle inside and I was like all right. It's time like I need to go back to us. You know I need to I need to follow my dream and ah so that's another funny story but like you, you always think you can do anything I say mom let's go. Let's go to New York and you know just go.

07:52.85

philjstreet

Aha.

08:03.55

Emeline

Like for five days and drop cv around and obviously that's not the way it works and ah so I went there. There was like a pile of Tv noing to restaurant in Brook clean french placing saying yeah I'm a head chef you know like ah I got I want to talk to gubu. So it's kind of pretitious and I was like you know and is not the way it works.

08:05.55

philjstreet

Um, yeah, yeah.

08:22.58

Emeline

So of course like they didn't work then came back and we have like this this magazine in France is' like um, ah lotely and that they ah ah I found ah I found an ad and it was like in ah ah like a restaurant in Linnox Massachusetts

08:30.35

philjstreet

Okay, yeah, yeah, yeah, I've learned that.

08:41.60

Emeline

So Lennox is kind of like the the hemptons for Boston ah so it's a beautiful arearia with like 1 of the biggest yoga center in the world. Ah it is just it's ah it's a little paradise it's it's so gorgeous. Um. And yeah, so I applied and after ah, yeah, have to have a couple of months of interviewing etcter I got the job got the job ah went to Paris had my visa and yeah in the about months and a half was exe chef in America. Ah yeah.

09:13.71

philjstreet

There's dream dream number one achieved.

09:17.58

Emeline

But you know it's ah it's ah is this is like it's just like oh that's what I want. That's what I want like and then yeah and then it happened and after they wanted me to stay a bit longer but I was like oh I want to learn spanish I want to travel I would like to to have an experience you know in in Dubai I want to see the world and. And I always had to be a bit careful because I had a dog as you know I'm I'm a dog lovef. Ah yeah, so I had to be ah I had to be ah, yeah, careful where I go and like there is no quarantine, Etc. Etc. So then ah yeah, so came back home.

09:39.56

philjstreet

Right? We come on to that. Don't worry.

09:56.80

Emeline

I was like all right Spain. So my first was I don't want it to go to Barcelona because I'm from source of friends. So I kind of knew Barcelona but I was like oh valencia or Madrid um, and then yeah hand up. Ah you know co french restaurant. You know, like really randomly you go on and turn that french restaurant in madre and then 1 gentleman Clement pick up and he was like how do you know? I'm looking for somebody I was like I don't know I mean once again, you know I'm like here I was like is a okay, okay, can you come next week I'm like yesha and then yeah when they met the team see the restaurant was absolutely beautiful. Um, and in in the meantime though like I was really interested to go to Dubai and I met this lady who was opening a cooking school ah in zmera beach but it was not opened yet. She was working on the project and obviously I had to have a job.

10:48.90

philjstreet

Yeah, yeah.

10:50.22

Emeline

Ah, so I decided to go to to Spain. Um, wonderful experience in Spain obviously you see the products of a de are fantastic. We had like the fishmonque coming with this palette of you know, like fish right from the sea ah like dropping to us. It was was really good I learned how to cook sous vide. It was like gastronomicmic restaurant so we were doing everything homemade from the du bush to the bread to you know des deserved a really small team but you know it really really completely the opposite opposite of America I was in a me restaurant but America was like really really, really busy was fine dining but was really like.

11:22.11

philjstreet

Right.

11:30.17

Emeline

You know, like like yeah like a lot of covers and so was was really so I kind of switched again and really focused on you know, different flavors trying to be more perfect more defined like. And um, and then the lady from ah from Dubai called me and say oh would you like to to come ah ah to help us out for the opening for um, for her week and I was like I was like yeah so as I spoke to my boss can I take a week and try you know, try this etc and um, went to Dubai. Ah, to super just for the week ah the the opening of the cooking school and yeah it wasn't for me. Um the the Dubai ah I mean the the short experience I had there like wasn't really my personality and was really hot. So I don't think my boxer would have loved that too.

12:09.40

philjstreet

Okay.

12:22.42

Emeline

But it's ah it's ah so then went back I went back in Spain and I was like come out like like I need to I need to change like you know I need to was what I was there one ear and I was I don't know like the the spanish life. It's very parting and very you know. It was not was not for me anymore and I I do love speaking english I must admit I'm very fascinated about these languages. So it's um so I was like okay so went back home and I was like what do I do now like I was like should I go to Singapore you know because there is no quarantine for dogs I was like.

13:00.36

philjstreet

Um, it's all about the dog. Yeah.

13:01.64

Emeline

Like you know so is the is the big you know? Yeah I know and I and I was I was going to term thirty this year so you know was kind of like the big. Yeah, the big number and you're like oh my god I need to make the right decision now. It's no more her. Yeah, it's no more like you know like. Playing around then just trying to have experience I need to build something and my mom was like you know, always listen to your mother. Ah, she's like why don't you go to London I was like ah London is too small. You know it's not like America and she's like I think it did much your personality him mar I was like. Case who I tried you know since Cvs you know, came here for a weekend foreign interviewsters there and um and got a job and actually at the end of may will be 9 years I'm ah I mean this a beautiful country. Ah, and and yeah, so so that's my ah, that's how I arrive in London.

13:49.60

philjstreet

Um, yeah.

13:55.95

Emeline

Ah, so I started as ah so I did downgrade in my position I went ah as a senior sous chef in oban restaurant so in ah in South Kensington um so what's was a good ah was's a good step because.

14:06.26

philjstreet

Yep, yeah yeah, but but.

14:14.10

Emeline

I've learned all about your legislation and obviously coming from different countries. You kind of you know you you need? yeah to listen a bit so it was really really good experience. South sinceky.

14:23.55

philjstreet

That's ah but a fair point actually like I mean you know to? We're kind of just talking that you know very off the cuff here about moving here moving there la la la all that sort of stuff but actually you know it's quite ah, an upheaval. Whatever however, transient you are and however, comfortable. You are with travel and all of these sorts of things to still have this moment whereby you are moving from. Ah, adapt one culture to another but you're living here. It's not like you're just experiencing it for a couple of weeks and being you know, consumed by everything and all around you. You've got to make a life here and so actually that's quite that can be quite a lot of pressure so actually to have the foresight to say well look I'm just gonna I'm gonna take a step back so I can.

14:56.66

Emeline

Um, this this.

15:09.70

philjstreet

Kind of almost ease my way into understanding the the fullness of of what I'm doing here and as you say learning a new legislation I mean the the Uk Public Health is you know it's quite specific.

15:24.26

Emeline

Who.

15:26.60

philjstreet

Um, in it in its approach so you know all of these things where if you'd have gone straight into a head shift. Maybe you would have been setting yourself up for for failure because there's too much to learn. Okay I'll just scrap that I'll add ah but out. But ah.

15:35.91

Emeline

I No I don't think so because Like. Ah, no, no you you know at the end of the day you need to to follow certain and pros procedure when you cook and when you know you've you've been cooking for many Yearss. You know what to do and what not to do you know after it's not solely about like knowing which cutting board you need to use for which.

15:59.68

philjstreet

Yeah.

16:00.57

Emeline

Projects you know it's ah it's um I think is um, yeah I think it it came to you know did disposition came and I was like sometimes it's better to regress to think about the long term and not jumping right away onto you know. I felt that the right at that moment that was the right decision because at the end like I was a head chef in France and I moved to I moved to ah to America I was exec chef I didn't know nothing like nothing at all like ah like ah I arrived there I was completely lost like we don't cook meat like the same way they do you know like.

16:28.32

philjstreet

Right? yeah.

16:38.17

Emeline

They have like a million temp for a stack over there. You know it's ah everything every country is different and to be fair like I moved to madreid I didn't know how to speak Spanishville at all like I was literally like my boss was french so he was ah like when I was placing I was giving him my order at the end of the day you know.

16:45.25

philjstreet

Right? yeah.

16:55.10

Emeline

And then and then after 2 months he's like okay you know how to do it now you need to do it. So then I was so scared to that my pronunciation was not right that ah I was waiting the out of office just to speak to the answer machine. You know to place my order. Yeah, and then and then after I start to get confidence. So it's just.

17:06.54

philjstreet

Oh bless you? yeah.

17:13.66

Emeline

I don't know what comes you know and you need to embrace it and this position came I had other opportunity but I was like this is this is the one. This is a very strong company like they know what they're doing like you know I'm gonna learn you know like the right way and and you know it's giving me a break as well. A bit you know and and try to settle down and um, but yeah, but I could ah I mean you do you are complicated in this country though you it's it's true. You you have a bit complicated but um, yeah so I Don ah I done eight months there and ah, then then then I decided that you know was you know okay cold now I want to be a head chef again and I start to work in a cafe in Aborn Flit River bakery so was completely different of what I um um I was used to do because I was.

17:57.58

philjstreet

Yeah.

18:09.55

Emeline

new belging and twist it in.: 300000

18:52.19

philjstreet

Yeah.

19:07.89

Emeline

That other cafe as well was some things like really really interesting. So I don't know done that I stayed with them for quite a long time and we opened like a guestroperb as well with a josperovn so once again, another challenge. Never ah, never worked with a jos perovn ah like build different teams. Ah, and yeah, seeing like you know, different things and try to get to 2 to to think about you know how what can work there for different area and anyway and stay there like for about I think 5 years for for 5 Years

19:45.56

philjstreet

Yep.

19:46.68

Emeline

And then ah yeah, and then ah after was time. Ah, you know it was like I want to go into development I want to I want to yeah want to go back to the roots I want to yeah I've done that for many many years and I was like it's time you know once again, you just follow your heart. And I was like I really want to I really want to go into development and um and I found this position as at the time at development. Super check for sodexxo and I think there is a um, you know so dek so is not solidly Hospitalal with.

20:14.38

philjstreet

Um, yeah.

20:24.28

Emeline

With bags of food because that that was my view when I was in France like you know we know Sudicwi's a french company was like you know more cattering for for you know, schools and hospital etc etc which you know it's brilliant but you see it's not my my cooking and I was like huh and then I wrote the the job description I was like oh my god. That sounds absolutely amazing and and I applied sorry moon yeah, and and he was ah so and I spoke to the to the gentleman and I was like.

20:45.14

philjstreet

Like like you've just written it yourself basic like you've just written it yourself like that This is the job that I want and here is the job presenting itself to you.

21:02.26

Emeline

Ah, so so what is it. It was like God that sudics so Spor and leisure I was like oh oh and so then I understood that you know you've got different segments into sudic. So so yes, you've got you know Justice You know that is different segment and then you've got Spor and leisure.

21:13.72

philjstreet

There for sure.

21:17.48

Emeline

and Spor And Leisure It's all you know the statueds like like the wonderful museum you've got. We've got two bots on the thames we've got you know ascot which is like such a wonderful venues. Ah like yeah had mazure evans I was like whoa and um and I'm like okay. I apply like I want to do it I want to do it and then ah yeah, and then got the job and and here I am like he's been ah about three years and a half now and I enjoy every single minute of it I think it's ah yeah, it's ah a fascinating world. Ah. Like corpuette and catttering because it's I never done that and and you meet absolutely like like master people and you learn from a yeah, it's yeah, it's fantastic.

22:04.64

philjstreet

Yeah, but your um, we're going to talk about your Instagram profile at some point. Well we might as well do it now. Um, they you know your ah title or your the tag of your Instagram is foodie and pause. We've also heard through this last twenty two minutes that

22:18.67

Emeline

Um, ah.

22:24.40

philjstreet

The dogs play quite a large part in your life and and's as as they should um but having been on there I've seen a couple of photographs with you on a certain raymon blanc. Um, you're just talking about you know the the people that you meet whilst doing the the role you have I mean is there a nicer man.

22:24.73

Emeline

Yes.

22:33.81

Emeline

Yes.

22:43.60

Emeline

Yeah, yeah, oh I'm like if you stuck me on the subject is just it's just and it's is just wonderful I mean it's give you and you see the thing being French and you know like Mihland Star is not my background is not where I you know.

22:43.52

philjstreet

In the industry than that man.

23:01.71

Emeline

I Grow It's just such a luck to to work with him and his team. They're just absolutely like brilliant people and and Himmo is just I don't know you are an advanced and he still teach you something and you see is so.

23:19.62

philjstreet

Um, yeah.

23:20.71

Emeline

Passionette and this is what our industry is about. It's like he's like he's vibrating you know for foods and and projects and flavors and ah yeah is ah I mean I'm very looking very very okay.

23:32.81

philjstreet

Yeah, but you know the the you say you're lucky but you've kind of you've put yourself into this position because the 1 thing I I picked up from your career story so far the overriding message that I got is that you are and incredibly proactive around. What happens next to you. It's not a question of like you're the one that's made the choice to to go and do this, you're the one. That's then said, right? I want to learn about this and then you go and you you do it or I want to go and move and and you know improve my english so I'm going to go and do that and. So you've kind of had the reins to your life. You know and I'm sure stuff has happened to you along the way where you've had to react to and change and all of that sort of thing but the overriding thing is is that you're here because you've put yourself here. This is not it's not it's not luck your you know your your talent and your drive has gotten you to where you are at this point in time and the fact that you wake up every day you know and you're exactly where you need to be it sounds at this point in time in your life. It's just wonderful. It's just wonderful. We could we could we could leave the podcast there. It's just a lovely.

24:39.53

Emeline

Um, but you don't. Ah, no, but you know ah at the at end of the day We. We've got a skill. It's in our hands. So You know we don't need to carry much. It's it's in our hands so you can This is what's wonderful with this industry. It's.

24:44.97

philjstreet

Wonderful, fluffy happy thing.

24:52.26

philjstreet

Yeah.

25:04.34

Emeline

You can do it everywhere in the world. You know like you can you know and then you learn from from everybody all the time and it's just make you stronger and and like yeah it's you don't need to yeah with one suitcase you just go wherever you want is safe.

25:05.10

philjstreet

Um, yeah.

25:18.60

philjstreet

Yeah, no I mean yeah I mean you don't probably go somewhere with a stack full of Cvs and and hope to get a job. There's probably an easier way to do that these days. But yeah, especially with visas and things like that I would I would imagine but no.

25:22.78

Emeline

And.

25:26.85

Emeline

Um, you know that.

25:36.40

philjstreet

But Also I think the other thing that I picked up was is that you've you've kind of I don't want to say you've ticked things off as you go, but you've gone you've gone somewhere and you've learned something you've gone somewhere else and you've learned something else and you've gone somewhere else and you know and you've got all of these different styles of of cookery. All these different. Ah, styles of restaurant. Ah volume fine dining Gastro Pub Cafe you know, which must bring you into a really a solid grounding for a role like you have now where you've got to kind of explore lots of different things. Um, for lots of different types of businesses again because I would imagine in ah like as ah, an example in a museum you're going to have a cafe but you're probably also going to have a restaurant. Um and so having the knowledge of kind of both how both of these things work.

26:14.67

Emeline

Ever. Ah.

26:31.60

Emeline

It does indeed. Yeah, it's ah and I always been. You know, very curious about different foods like the the one I need to tick in my box. It's ah like Japanese I don't know much about Japanese food I find it very very complex. Um, but yeah, it's ah.

26:31.70

philjstreet

Must serve you? well.

26:41.19

philjstreet

Right.

26:50.97

Emeline

Yeah, you know cooking. It's it's you on ah you on every day you know and it's ah like different different people. You know I remember my my one. My one of my kitchen poter was from Colombia you know and you you cook stuff food and you learn about colombian dishes. You know like. Like when I was in us 1 of my chef was mexican and it actually teached me the right way to make pico de gallo and guacamo. You know it's it's ah and it's and that is that is things that can be. You know, served in a more refined restaurant and more classic places. You know it's ah. The versatility of ah of the different cuisine. They can be. You know, transferred into different style. You know is just um.

27:35.22

philjstreet

Yeah, yeah, and that one that's it's kind of a a never ending um thing as well. I mean the the combinations that we're still learning right? I mean we learn from each other as you say ah your Columbian ah Kitchen porter teaching you.

27:54.25

Emeline

Listen.

27:54.51

philjstreet

You about colombian food I'd I'd love to learn about columbian food. As an example, you know and there there's just there's always something else to learn I'm sure even Raymon Blanc learns new things on a fairly regular basis or maybe not actually I think he knows everything. But anyway yeah.

28:04.59

Emeline

Since she stupid. Is the master of the master.

28:14.43

philjstreet

Absolutely Um, yeah, so well talk to us about your role now then and the types of things that you're that you're covering and um, you mentioned that you're in Stadia and that you're in museums and things like that but give us a kind of snapshot of what you're kind of. Your date. It looks like.

28:32.70

Emeline

So it's been ah I mean recently's been a lot of of work around that new legislation with the calorie. Yeah, you know that new law. Ah like we started on the sixth of April so we worked um we were yeah and yeah I'm good.

28:45.20

philjstreet

That's fun isn't it. So.

28:49.57

Emeline

I am going to reserve my comment right now. Ah.

28:51.95

philjstreet

That's fair. That's fair, yes, but they' say that this is not a political podcast. So I'm not Goingnna I'm not going to take you to that route.

28:53.77

Emeline

Ah, yeah, so what was a lot of work ones. Obviously it's reacting a lot with ah different issue. We've got with the supply. You know like you know, ah all the problem around the world like Brexit and you can exter cetera so that's just. Making for all of us things a bit more difficult and recruitment, etc, etc. But um, we've got wonderful ah project that coming up right now. So so they so live as invested into a farm and we are growing our own vegetables.

29:27.22

philjstreet

Ah, nice.

29:29.34

Emeline

Ah, so it's cool. Yes, so it's um, it's called full circlele farm they there is the this um the charity attached to it is the garden army and it's ah a regimegenerater farm. So the the gentleman and farmer of Tom is just such a wonderful man. And ah e e e yeah, the to god it's like to grow your vegetable but it's kind of like polongge like like the the soil will not be used. You see what I'm in I don't know how to explain it. Um.

29:58.63

philjstreet

Um, yeah.

30:02.95

Emeline

Yeah, it's legenderd itself you know because you're doing the right thing. So for example, he was telling us that it's going to get another piece of land and it's going to put like some pork you know and then ah like the like the fact that the pork's going to be walking on that ground. It's going to you know, create something onto the subbo I'm not ah I'm not.

30:19.10

philjstreet

I I think met I think I've met farmer Tom did I think did farmer Tom was he involved in ah the hotel birch in hertfordshire. Yeah because I went there and did ah he does.

30:22.46

Emeline

And expect did you did you.

30:32.39

Emeline

I Think so yeah I think so.

30:38.99

philjstreet

Or he certainly used to I don't know if he's even still there but the um he used to do these talks around what they were trying to do with the land and there they would have ah they would set up a ah ah place for the for the pigs to work the land.

30:43.77

Emeline

Ah.

30:49.88

Emeline

Um, but.

30:53.34

philjstreet

Um, and then when they're done there. They move them onto the next piece of land and they bring in the chickens then who do their thing with the land and then do that's at that point you start to plant and then you effectively recycle all of this all all over again and um I was a.

30:57.96

Emeline

Um.

31:06.75

Emeline

Yeah, yeah.

31:12.42

philjstreet

Totally hooked on that because you know this is one of the things that that nobody ever used to talk about but more and more people are talking about now is regenerative farming right and to get a ah big company like sudexo live behind something like that I think's exactly what.

31:19.70

Emeline

Are.

31:32.14

philjstreet

It needs it needs it needs big business to to take hold and not just be. You know, ah taking advantage of the land all the time which is you know for the the last few years we've seen that I think the top soil levels are. You know at all time low and we can't grow things properly if there's no topsoil and all of these things. So It's wonderful news for me that a big business is is getting behind something like this.

31:49.81

Emeline

Um, is it.

31:56.89

Emeline

Yeah, no, it's ah it's ah it's great and it's not only this is it like you know we're gonna we're gonna learn more about vegetables. We're gonna we're gonna go there and we're gonna help him which is you know when I live in London and more. Um. You know I live southlandone. It's it's you know we've got a lot of park and it's nice but I remember like when I visited his farm it. Um, it just one morning it kind ofitized me like I was in a you know.

32:25.81

philjstreet

Yeah I can imagine.

32:29.83

Emeline

Yeah, was like you know so peaceful and dogs running grabbing you know apples and you know playing around and you know you you got your hunter and you you know it was a bit raining but just just the way it showed you know and ah and I felt like pumped up. You know I was like whoa and you know for mental health. It's so good.

32:47.29

philjstreet

Yeah.

32:49.30

Emeline

You know, like just you know like we are. We're gonna organize like you know for our teams like some some days where we're gonna go there. We're gonna help him Out. We're gonna We're gonna make a little picnic. We're gonna learn ah more about vegetable where it's coming from what you know like seasonalities. Obviously you very like key into our philosophy like it's key key key. And ah, and yeah, and then you know that is' seeing Sometimes you're very surprised like how how does it grow is it coming coming from a tree is it coming from the soil like you know how are like I mean pineapple is it not crazy like you know like you there is things like sometimes you you you know you're like oh what is it? Oh yeah, because it it.

33:15.10

philjstreet

Um, yeah.

33:28.45

Emeline

Yeah I mean I found that fascinating and I'm really really looking forward to it and and obviously we able to tell him like you know what we want and we're going to use those vegetables to create our menus so is just super cool. Really really super cool.

33:37.97

philjstreet

Fantastic, Yeah, absolutely yeah and I can imagine as a chef as well like that's yeah as you say just revitalized. It's like oh yes and I'm going to literally much like the scenario whereby you've got a fishmonger.

33:56.88

Emeline

Ah.

33:57.29

philjstreet

Delivering fresh fish to you that that was caught that morning Now you're going to be able like chop off up pineapple or pepper or whatever. Yeah I don't know can we grow pineapples in this country. No no yeah, not.

34:07.48

Emeline

I don't think so we can ask some? Ah yeah, but no, that's ah so that's cool. So that's one. Ah wonderful project. We've got and second one is um, ah suic soliva has created um.

34:14.11

philjstreet

Nothing is off the table with Tom at.

34:26.46

Emeline

Ah, scholarship and aronship with ah Remon Blanc ah yeah so that we're gonna have like about six eight ah like like young chefs who will be able with heat training to develop their skills in so in our vens that we've got in London and they're gonna have the chance.

34:28.15

philjstreet

Brilliant.

34:45.88

Emeline

The chance to go work two months at the manoir. Yeah, so it's ah I know I said the same as can I so this ah this is this is a wonderful opportunity because they will be able.

34:47.77

philjstreet

Um, Wow where where do I sign up. Ah.

35:02.67

Emeline

So they're going to do two months in ah each of our vens in London they will be able to support us for ah Jar Dan Bla in Chei flower show http://whileaasco once again which is seems you see when we go back to it I remember my my first royal like I've never you know done maure events. Like that way like that volume like you know you you do? Yeah, you do big weddings and stuff but you like and even after like 20 years working in this industry was like oh my god you know it's like mind blowing the organization behind it and like you know, like the the. You you know there is this kind of positive bubble like you go there and you just lift it up by everybody and it's um, it's just yeah, yeah, so they will be able to to be part of that and ah and I'm very very very excited about it like. We're gonna have some days out as well like show show them like you know barro market make them try some projects going to the farm. So they're gonna have an amazing year amazing air.

36:07.99

philjstreet

Fantastic, Yeah, absolutely and you know it's one of the things that I think we can do as an industry to really turn the tide of attracting more people in is let's give them moments of inspiration. Let's inspire them to come into the to the industry you know. Let let it not just be about getting a job. You know,? let's let's give them the opportunity. There's lots of I've had the the I suppose the privilege whilst doing this podcast of talking to lots of people who've got lots of different little things going and with enough little things going on. You know.

36:43.48

Emeline

Um, visit.

36:46.21

philjstreet

In 5 years time we'll look back at this time and go well god you remember that time we had that recruitment problem. Um you know, but um, um, but it needs everyone to step up and it's great to hear that you guys are stepping up as well. With ah you know who's not going to be inspired by spending.

36:51.87

Emeline

Um, yeah.

37:05.79

philjstreet

Time with Mr Blanc but also you know is there any better training than actually live training getting out into the venues and learning about um ways and means and your the good moments. The bad moments. Everything.

37:16.77

Emeline

Yeah, the the exactly the you know the this industry like you know it's like it's it's it's backed the same when you learn the language hour to I learn english I think I start to learn english I was like 8 you know in friends they start to you know, give you a class once in a while and. So I arrive in America I ah know how to say a word you know the best is just being. You know your hands into it you you will learn way more after 1 year going into different venues seeing different kind of food like like Evans.

37:39.36

philjstreet

Um, yeah, yeah.

37:54.33

Emeline

Like the organization be be be behind maure Evans then going talk fight dining. You know, like fine fine dining like excellence even you know like the manu ca con and then yeah, we're working on you know, like the precision you know it's ah you will learn way more. Than than you know going to school I mean school is important. Don't take me wrong. It's you know it's giving you this military and you know like it's important to learn about different things exactly but in time of our work you our industry? yeah.

38:16.71

philjstreet

Yeah, a grounding. Okay.

38:27.95

Emeline

Try it out. You know you passionate you you eager to to learn different things you you want to be part of ah like a family because at the end of the day this industry there is a special bond feel. You know it's um I mean you spend more time with your colleagues that you're spending with your friends or your family.

38:44.39

philjstreet

Yeah.

38:46.42

Emeline

So there is this kind of like like brotherhood and and ah yeah, it's it's it's it's a team but it's deeper than ah than a team. It's ah yeah.

38:55.70

philjstreet

Yeah, no know it's family is what it is what it's what it becomes and that sounds very whimsical to say that but and in the end you know I count. It's been a long time since I've been anywhere near operations but I count back the the number of my mates that I'm still in contact with.

39:02.88

Emeline

Um.

39:15.25

philjstreet

Today far out ways you know from from that period when I was an operator you know because you kind of you live and die together. You know you, you know you share the celebrations but you share the the times where it all goes horribly wrong as well and and you actually the times where it goes horrible.

39:17.80

Emeline

Um. Um.

39:29.50

Emeline

Um.

39:34.18

philjstreet

Horribly wrong are always going to happen. Um, and you actually learn more about each other in these moments I think than than you do when? everything's lovely and easy. Um, and um, you know and and I think critically for that it feels like leadership understand or understands this now.

39:42.17

Emeline

That.

39:52.00

Emeline

Hurt.

39:53.72

philjstreet

As well. You know that there's um I know that we've historically had you know culture issues. Um, but the the change in the um and the kitchen space in the last few years you know you can feel. There's more people actually really care about the whole process. The human is part of that process. And you build such as you say such amazing bonds with people. Um because you're just you know you're sharing so much together.

40:19.16

Emeline

Yeah, it's it needs the pressure. You know it's it's such um, you always feel. Ah, you know when you are at the pass and it's really funny I was talking with um with um our divisional exec chef last week and he finished his she he gave me a bursts. He was like oh I'm mean I was at the pass and I was like as like it's good. Isn't it as like this this you know like you've got that tinker in your stomach and you feel like you are in the marix movie. You know it's like dot da da check on and this and that and and he's like he's like it's you know I don't know it. Likes you and you know this is why we do this job because we worked all day all afternoon all night you know we cook different food and then there is this peak moment where you know you achieve something. It's not like you know you've got like a six months project now that that project is every lunch every dinner. Every opportunity every breakfast that you do you know? It's this and then it just takescks you and you've got that kind of like trance. You don't feel anything like you can burn yourself. Don't don't feel it. You know you catch yourself? no no no you you like oh yeah go bum you know like you just iron man you know at that moment.

41:21.23

philjstreet

Yeah, yeah.

41:27.51

philjstreet

Um, yeah.

41:29.63

Emeline

And it just and you float and then there is you know I mean this is another things I kind of vlog but you know the energy you know I think we we all have vibration you know in our body. We all related with one and the other you know and and it's when you are had the past and everyone is just so for confused there is this. You know it's like it's floating then you know when we have one goal you know it's like send those dishes. You know the best we can and it's yeah, but he he told me that last week and I'm like ah like it always texts me. You know this you could you could cry you could You could have um, a top of tears.

41:56.41

philjstreet

Yeah.

42:02.57

philjstreet

Yeah.

42:08.62

Emeline

So much you win the emotion and it just I don't know I Love it. Love it. Love it. Love it.

42:10.66

philjstreet

Yeah, now it's great. It's great to see Absolutely is and yeah, it makes me feel like I want to work for you because you're you know to work for people who show the passion and show the care in what they do. It's you know it's what it's all about you know we need more people like that. Ah, throughout the industry and every single facet. Um, you know once we've got that foundation and play then everything else takes care of itself. Um, yeah God We went deep then didn't we that was um, that's great. Um, but we do go deep on this podcast from time to time.

42:37.12

Emeline

Her for fifth.

42:47.40

philjstreet

Just from time to time. So let's um, let's talk very quickly about your your Instagram page foodie and pause so dogs and food basically are your 2 things. Yeah absolutely and um.

42:53.60

Emeline

Yes.

42:58.48

Emeline

Yeah, my my 2 thing. Yeah.

43:05.85

philjstreet

I'm going to suggest that probably the dogs are more important than the food. Ultimately.

43:08.60

Emeline

Yeah I have to admit I'm ah I'm a big massive dog lover. Ah like I had the the most wonderful boxer who traveled with me. Ah.

43:18.41

philjstreet

Um, yeah.

43:21.70

Emeline

Yeah, in ah in ah in us and in in Spain and in in London and she was ah a french a french dog which actually got in a restaurant that was working ah I was a yeah yeah I was working there and they they had I remember I was once again because in France at the time it was ah like you know you just walk by with a Tv.

43:29.63

philjstreet

Um, okay.

43:40.91

Emeline

And you're like oh are you looking for? So you know for somebody so I arrive in mont perier and was this restaurant with called lu 6 and then a knock by and I had those 2 big massive boxer coming at me and the boss was like like ah I was a oh sorry, don't worry we did did they know is nice. So zaka right? drop my cv and I was so chef there and. And I fell in love ah with ah with this boxer and solo he was called and the owners met babies. Um I don't know how you say in english like they met babies with um yes and the the wait for us.

44:09.71

philjstreet

Yeah, they got little poppies.

44:17.40

Emeline

Ah, who was working there was getting married and the the owners were like okay we're going to offer you one of the puppies and she was like okay we didn't come with me come with me and ah and ah, she's like I'm going to go go pick um pick my baby and I was like oh no no no no I'm like if I'm coming. They're too cute because I really had a special affection for solo. Like really really really and ah and then I'm like okay I'm coming and then I opened the door and the the owner opened the door and and then I saw daya coming up and she was exactly like her father like the same color. The other one were more clear but she was exactly like that and I just. Instantly fell in love. And yes, I'm working in ah in a busy industry. Yes, it's not easy to travel with a dog but but yeah you found ways around it and she's been with me for ah she was with me for 12 years and a half and yeah the love of my life.

45:11.20

philjstreet

Yeah, Bless Yeah general your point there about about it not being easy. Life's not easy right? and it' ah and it shouldn't be um, you know we've got to stop being scared of stuff not being easy.

45:13.13

Emeline

The yeah the the best. Yeah.

45:26.30

Emeline

Um.

45:27.76

philjstreet

Um, you know and and build yourself up to be able to cope with not easy. Um, it's a much better place to be than running away from not easy Anyway, that's another runt.

45:30.91

Emeline

Um, better.

45:36.88

Emeline

Yeah, and I've thought it it. Yeah, but after it's being straightforward. You know it's like you you know Um, when I moved to us I said I've got my dogs and actually my my bosses had dogs and I said ah but leukemia I had my flat in the front of the restaurant. But I so I stilled it right away I was like ah. I would need to take her for a walk. She would need to be. You know, entertained and ah and yeah and it it just worked. You know like even even in London you you know you like okay like right away when you you pass an interview like I have a dog you know like ah like I'm not going to go home and take a nap.

46:00.17

philjstreet

Um, yeah.

46:12.12

Emeline

But you know I do need ah you know to organize myself and making sure that you know she's well looked after but yeah, and then ah now. Ah, once again, another ah so she she? ah you know had a wonderful life 10 passed to her last year um

46:15.88

philjstreet

Yeah.

46:25.56

philjstreet

I bless.

46:29.20

Emeline

And and then Lily and lola came into our lives so it's too ah too little french bulldog ah completely crazy. Ah yeah, so that was another one as well. Ah, like you know like go back to the puppy life because everyone thinks puppies are wonderful. They are they are wonderful but oh my god they they heart they? Yeah yeah, you got a big girl.

46:48.75

philjstreet

Or I know I know. Yes, yeah, we had a beagle from from pop and we did the same thing we you know an opportunity presented itself and and we set up Well'll just go and we'll go and have a look at the at the puppy and but you know we're not we're not ready you know we've we've got to get some a few things in our role first and you know back then? um, my wife was commuting into London every day I was in and out of London 2 3 4 Times a week and so it wasn't it wasn't right and then of course we went there and oh my god.

47:25.79

Emeline

Yeah, met bip. Yeah.

47:27.50

philjstreet

Have to have this little thing. Um I think that the dog chooses you though, right? Ah well you chose because of the the heritage of the of the father etc. But yeah, our little one came straight over to us and we were like oh God Well that's it then we're going to have to make some changes in our life. Um.

47:43.83

Emeline

Yet.

47:46.57

philjstreet

And I don't regret it for a second but you're right? it was um, nobody really fully explained how difficult that first couple of weeks would be um, in terms of yeah well speak because we we actually ended up having to seek help because we were at the point of okay, we're not.

47:54.80

Emeline

Upon a couple of weeks ah ah

48:06.21

philjstreet

I don't want to send the dog down the wrong path by by ah doing discipline in the wrong way or whatever so we had to bring in somebody who knew what they're talking about. They gave us 1 technique which changed everything and it was um, you had a we had a real bitey.

48:06.72

Emeline

Um, ah.

48:16.75

Emeline

Tell me tell me tell me what is the tip.

48:24.19

philjstreet

Poppy so she just wanted to bite everything you get her off 1 thing by moving or this is not really hospitality is it. But anyway um I don't I don't care. Um, and um, you move, um her off biting your arm by dangling a toy. She bites the toy.

48:24.46

Emeline

Um, for that.

48:38.66

Emeline

For her.

48:42.40

philjstreet

Then gets bored to that within 10 seconds starts biting you again and we just couldn't figure out how to get get her to stop biting things and this um lady came in and she said you you have to create a warning word and then um, an hour warning word was careful and so because they start associating. Words with that and then um, if she continues to bite which she obviously will for the first few times you say too bad and then you take her to the puppy pen and you isolate her and you have to hear all the screaming and the you know the you know it's heart wrenching but you've got to fight through it.

49:12.39

Emeline

Um.

49:18.40

Emeline

Yes.

49:21.97

philjstreet

And then um I was literally in the space of when that lady was in our house for an hour the dog got it Bella she she got it like within 3 goes she was like biting, biting careful and then she went oh okay, like that and we were like. Oh my god she was the dog whisperer and um and it changed it changed the game completely and and we've we're on the byproduct of all of that is is that we've actually got a dog now who and we didn't have to train not to snatch. Or you know she doesn't when she if she's playing and she gets a little bit riled up. She's still whenever there's human contact involved. It's such a little dainty. You know it's just ah, but they need work right? That's the that's the thing. Um.

50:00.40

Emeline

Um, and.

50:06.49

Emeline

Um. Yeah, they do, but theyre pure. You know that's what is good and you know you you you finish? Ah you finish your day and you just open the door and they're just like you know it' ah it bring you it bring you down and the thing you see 1 thing I used to.

50:15.91

philjstreet

Yeah.

50:22.37

philjstreet

Yeah.

50:30.80

Emeline

Bring work with me at home like not physical work. But my mind you knows who either you you annoyed because you messed up a recipe or you had a bad service or you know you just like it's not you know, better better better and I always you know and you come home and then you're like.

50:33.70

philjstreet

Yeah, yeah.

50:46.74

Emeline

You know you're talking with your partner and your car and this and dad and bla Blah blah and then I start to see that my dog was really agitated and then because they actually absorb emotion and the pickup. Ah, and I I worked on my myself because I I got my dog.

50:53.90

philjstreet

Um, right.

51:03.25

Emeline

Quite young I had my dog when I was first head Chef Ah so imagine you know like it's and I've learned how to try to control my emotion and then yeah, the the walk or like the Jona the commute for.

51:05.19

philjstreet

Um.

51:18.75

Emeline

From the restaurant to my place was that moment where I need to like you know, let it go and then coming home and for her to be calm and not excited because you know she feel me very excited like you know it teach me she teach me how to calm and really be at home and try to breathe.

51:37.45

philjstreet

Yeah, but um, there we are and that's a wonderful segue back to hospitality well done, but but it's um, but it's true though there and we can learn so much from them. They're they're always, ah they don't judge. They're in the moment you know they all of these things which are.

51:38.26

Emeline

And um and relax.

51:57.20

philjstreet

Silly human brains take us into various different directions. But you know I think what they bring to you from a mental health perspective that is just it's off this off the charts Anyway, that's probably enough about dogs.

52:04.39

Emeline

Um, yes, yeah, yeah, yes, but.

52:13.00

philjstreet

Um, for regular viewers of the show Nola I'm a dog person but um, but there are viewers listeners I'm not in the telly um, a couple more things before I let you get on your way. Um stories Now you have given us a couple of stories but are there. Any. Particularly funny stories that you could share with us from your career so far.

52:36.90

Emeline

But funny funny Stories. You know it's it's It's a lot of different memories. It's it's ah it's ah is this this moment when you put music and you all sing together that is not. There is not one. There is a me. You are no different tiny Stories. You know it's It's a yeah, it is because you're gonna laugh because yeah, you try to you know like fix. Ah a sink and then you've got water around or you're gonna laugh because you you think you, you can carry a lot of things and actually you you drop her port and you like the pot of soup and then.

52:54.85

philjstreet

Um, yeah, it's difficult with pen it down isn't it.

53:11.94

philjstreet

Yeah.

53:13.82

Emeline

You know and you all start to laugh hysterically or it's ah yeah, and when you you put music in the kitchen and then you all start to you know one start to sing and then the other one and then you know it's all the specific moment you know out of service. You know the prep when you make the misum plus. And it's so I don't have one single memory I've got million of different tiny memories. It's ah.

53:37.40

philjstreet

Yeah, yeah, it's often the the the things that have the the most fun associated with them are are perhaps not that funny in the moment because. Ah, have put you in a ah you know a bad position or whatever but you look back on him and go oh god do you remember that time when tripped over and I you know literally wiped out 8 plates of food or something like that. You don't and you know and at the time it's like a that of disaster but it's it's all part of your learning right.

54:05.85

Emeline

It is like you you you? But yeah you you blend the soup and you like an out of the blue everything just splash on your face or you know you put you see flour and then puff once again, you know it's all those. It's a tiny little moments all the time that it's um, it makes um.

54:17.26

philjstreet

Um, yeah.

54:25.20

philjstreet

Yeah, yeah, makes up makes up for a wonderful career.

54:25.80

Emeline

Yeah, it's a funny. Yeah, it's it's ah it's really it is a nice industry because you can you know you you can be yourself like the diversity of ah of this industry. It's it's any. It's.

54:36.51

philjstreet

Um, yeah.

54:45.32

Emeline

Everyone is welcome. You know it's um, you come from different background different nationality. You know you have different way of things things you know it's such a yeah, you passion your passionate come just come come. You will learn. You will learn you.

54:56.90

philjstreet

Yeah, yeah, yeah, absolutely yeah, but yeah.

55:04.63

Emeline

And the development as Well. The development. It's It's ah unbelievable you you can grow you know you you? Yeah whatever you learn. There is no bad experience. Everything you do or every restaurant you can work every people that you meet it's just you know. Give you something and make you stronger and like yeah.

55:26.91

philjstreet

Yeah, there was ah a previous guest on the show had a saying which I always loved and remembered although I'm probably going to completely screw it up now that I say that but there is I think it was something along lines of there's no losing. There's only winning and learning um and I was like yeah.

55:41.93

Emeline

Ah.

55:46.68

philjstreet

Yeah, that's going on a t-shirt. Yeah absolutely yeah.

55:46.96

Emeline

Yeah, because you you need you need to fail sometimes you know and sometimes you know sometimes you knew you're gonna fail you know, like like it's ah sometimes you make a recip you're like I'm gonna cut corner and you're like I know a shooter and then you're doing it anyway and you're like you know that that's such and now we yeah and then.

56:01.90

philjstreet

And then you learn you don't cut the corner. Yeah yeah, no absolutely.

56:06.35

Emeline

Yeah, and I mean why did I do that when I know I'm was's going to fail. You know it's a idiot.

56:15.24

philjstreet

I was going to ask you what your top 3 reasons for someone to join hospitality. But I feel like you've given us loads over the course of this this chat. So I'm going to let you off the hook with that one and um and I think just wrap things up. Um I think you've had a wonderful story so far it sounds like you've got some wonderful things coming up.

56:27.62

Emeline

Dear.

56:35.21

philjstreet

Um, ah as well and um I've I've been hugely grateful for you taking your time out to to have this chat today your energy and passion for this industry is amazing and um and we need more people like you um and long may that continue as well.

56:35.37

Emeline

Doyer.

56:45.60

Emeline

Thank you.

56:51.30

Emeline

Um, so.

56:54.89

philjstreet

If um, if people want to get a hold of you to learn about you or sudexel live or anything that you're getting up to what's the best way for them to get in contact with you I think that's how we connected wasn't it in the the first place I can't even I so I think I I can't even remember why I reached out to you. But.

57:01.80

Emeline

Yeah, like I mean via Linkedin ah, which is always ah exactly yeah Linkedin.

57:14.12

philjstreet

Because we weren't connected before this and I I think I saw you in a post somewhere and you're doing something incredible and I thought Wow Yeah, but let's let's have a chat with you because it sounds like you're getting up to some really cool stuff and then we had a chat before and then I was like yeah your personality.

57:14.48

Emeline

Um, with that.

57:24.70

Emeline

Is the but.

57:33.38

philjstreet

People need to learn about emmeline. No problem at all. Great stuff.

57:33.60

Emeline

Thank you Phil Thank you thank you? It's um, now it's it. There. Yeah, thank you for inviting me. It's ah yeah, if. Ahly it will you know give like a wonderful vision to to people to come join this Ah this amazing industry and um, don't be scared just just cover for it. Cover. It. Thank you Phil you bye.

57:56.55

philjstreet

Yeah, nice, fantastic. Thanks so much Emily have a wonderful day ahead. Take care bye by.

58:06.33

Emeline

Bye bye.

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