Name:Andrew Batty
Restaurant:Blaze Pizza
Title: Business Manager
Faves:
Chef: I’m a huge fan of Nigel Slater. Love his cooking and use of a mix of traditional and eclectic ingredients. He also has a very interesting story, growing up cooking in the home from an early age and finding his love for food in restaurant kitchens.
Cooking show: A bit of a cliché, but I love watching Great British Bake Off. I enjoy watching people trying to master and perfect pastry, such a delicate product.
Cookbook: Nigel Slater: The Kitchen Diaries. Dishes to cook at different times of the year. It really helps you think about ingredients that are in season, how to cook them and what goes well with what. He also isn’t afraid to do very simple dishes, but beautifully well. Delia Smith: Delia Smith’s Christmas I have a very old, well worn and used copy that is my ‘goto’ for all things indulgent during the festive period
What experience most defined your decision and desire to get into the food industry?
I love serving people, it really is as simple as that. I worked in a hotel as a teenager and took time out between school and University to immerse myself in the food business, covering everything from kitchens to the dining room to working on reception. I had a knack for it, got told I was doing a great job and I ended up making a career out of it!
What do you love the most about your current job?
I really enjoy the people I work with, seeing them delivering a great experience to their guests and seeing them grow and develop. We sell great pizza, but quite honestly the hospitality business is a people business. Without great people you don’t have a great product, a great guest experience or a great business.
Where is your favorite place to shop for food and ingredients in Kuwait?
Dean & Deluca is a favorite and buying bread from Bouchon Bakery.
What food most reminds you of your family’s house, and why?
Lemon Meringue Pie. It was my Grandma’s favorite thing to cook, and the whole family loved it. She always seemed to get it just right every time, a really great pastry cook.
When you want to go somewhere else to eat, where do you go and why?
In Kuwait I enjoy going to Tatami for great sushi and the best gyoza in Kuwait. Four Seasons Dai Forni for great Italian food and a great view, or Big Chef for Turkish Breakfast.
Who in the world would you most like to cook for?
Easy. My Mum.
Name 3 ingredients that start with the first letter of your name.
Artichoke, Avocado, Almonds
What do you think will be the biggest food trend of 2019?
As we become ever more convenience-led, the biggest influence in food in 2019 will be packaging. Society is demanding a more plastic free environment and this will continue to impact packaging for food, whether it be on retail shelves, in delivery, or in restaurants.
