Steph Moon one of Yorkshire’s favourite chefs 10 commandments to success

In the lead up to this year’s Malton Food Lover’s Festival we spoke to Steph Moon about her previous festival highlights, experience as one of Yorkshire’s most loved chefs and her 10 commandments that have helped her to get to where she is today.
The Festival

Steph –  I was at Malton Food Lovers Festival from the very start under my gazebo with a Bunsen burner! To see how the festival has grown into such an important northern food festival is amazing.”

At the festival Steph has presented a number of cooking demonstrations and also cooked alongside some other top chefs such as Prue Leith (judge from the Great British Menu) and Jean Christophe Novelli who was impressed with Steph’s ability to wiz up a quality three course menu in 30 minutes!
This year Steph will be in the cookery theatre where students can create an Assiette of Strawberries including; Strawberry Shortcake, Strawberry Soup and Syllabub.

Steph- “As Chef Consultant to Rudding Park Harrogate, I hope to use some of the edible flowers and fresh mints we grow in the herb garden so the students can get first-hand knowledge of using fresh flowers and herbs from our amazing kitchen garden.”

Click here to attend the course.
About Steph
A Yorkshire farmer’s daughter, Steph started off at Craven College in Skipton which lead her to a placement at The Dorchester in London, working for the world famous chef Anton Mosimann, during which time she cooked for the Queen.

Steph “I was invited to Buckingham Palace when I was 26 years old where I was presented with a ‘National Young Achievers’ award. You may remember it, as it was the year that made the newspapers as Denise Van Outen got caught pinching an ashtray!”

Her next challenge came from Coniston Hotel Yorkshire, which was a brand new hotel still under construction. The experience of setting up a new kitchen was a fantastic opportunity leading to Steph and the team securing a “Catey” for the hotel (the hospitality version of an Oscar) as Newcomer of the Year.
Now author of the Wild Cooks Blog and Chef Constant at the impressive Rudding Park Harrogate. Steph also runs her own Chef Consultancy business ‘All Things Food’ working with businesses to help them achieve their potential.
Steph’s 10 Commandments to Success in the Restaurant Business

1. Work hard and learn your craft – if you are dedicated success will come. You cannot be a Jamie Oliver over night!
2. Always keep a finger on the pulse about what is happening in the industry using social media.
3. Listen to older chefs who have been there. You don’t necessarily have to do what they say but it is good to get a second opinion.
4. Eat one proper meal a day – you will be surprised how many chefs end up buying packet sandwiches from the garage on their way home!
5. Accept influences from anywhere, from Grandma’s old favourites to Street Food Traders in Australia – keep your eyes open.
6. Balance life, make the most of the days off to keep up with family and friends.
7. Don’t stick too many flavours on the plate – less is more!
8. There can be as much beauty in a ham sandwich as a gourmet lobster main course – it’s how you make it.
9. Be supportive to your peers – it is important to keep your network of chefs vibrant and interesting.
10. Give your time to support schools, colleagues and young people starting in the industry.

To find out more about the Malton Food Festival visit their page here. We will be attending the festival on Sunday, so why not follow us on Instagram to keep update with all goings on!