The Secret List

EP12. Jack Stein Chef Director of Rick Stein Restaurants

Our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Secret List⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.secretlux.com/secretlist/] chat with Jack Stein on St. Ives Beach during the food festival. As Chef Director of Rick Stein Restaurants, Jack oversees all kitchen operations across the celebrated family empire that's marking its 50th anniversary this year. Having started as a 14-year-old kitchen porter in 1994, Jack brings a lifetime of experience and deep Cornwall connections to our conversation. Jack shares his favourite eating and drinking spots, his producer recommendations spotlighting family businesses with deep Cornwall roots and concludes with an unexpected insider tip about Cornwall's emerging bluefin tuna catch-and-release experiences. With characteristic Stein enthusiasm, Jack provides a perfect blend of established favourites and emerging discoveries across Cornwall's vibrant food landscape. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Secret List⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.secretlux.com/secretlist/]⁠⁠⁠⁠ for links to everything featured in this episode. And remember to follow us to be the first to listen to our latest episodes.

EP11. Kattie Rosser Wine Expert from Marazion

Our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Secret List⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.secretlux.com/secretlist/] chat with Kattie Rosser, a Marazion-based wine expert who works with Enotria and Coe, importing exceptional wines from around the world. As someone with a professional palate and deep appreciation for Cornwall’s food and drink scene, Kattie offers invaluable insights into where locals truly love to dine and unwind. Her restaurant recommendations blend quality with a refreshingly informal approach, and for drinks, she gravitates toward authentic experiences and live music or unbeatable sea views, where a glass of bubbly comes with panoramic vistas of St. Michael’s Mount. 🪨 Kattie reveals one of Cornwall’s most magical yet overlooked experiences. This glimpse into Cornwall’s more spiritual side offers a perfect counterpoint to the region’s celebrated culinary landscape. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Secret List⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.secretlux.com/secretlist/]⁠⁠⁠⁠ for links to everything featured in this episode. And remember to follow us to be the first to listen to our latest episodes.

EP10. Rose Cant and Eddie Rains

Our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Secret List⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.secretlux.com/secretlist/] chat with this entertaining culinary duo during the St. Ives Food Festival. Rose Cant (better known online as “Mum on Muddy Lane”) brings her relatable, home-cooking style to food festivals, focusing on dishes anyone can recreate at home. Alongside her, Eddy Rains heads the kitchen at the Halfway House gastropub between Weybridge and Padstow, where he’s become known for exceptional steak despite Cornwall’s seafood reputation. Our beachside conversation reveals their favourite spots around Padstow and Rock. Both share their go-to drinking establishments – Rose’s beloved “cupboard of dreams” wine bar (home to the memorably-named “Fizzy Bum Bum”), and Eddy’s preference for the authentic Cornish atmosphere of The Harbour Inn. ❤️‍🩹 Beyond food, they offer insider tips that should be “on the NHS for mental health”. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Secret List⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.secretlux.com/secretlist/]⁠⁠⁠⁠ for links to everything featured in this episode. And remember to follow us to be the first to listen to our latest episodes.

EP9. Hairy from Vicky's Bread

Our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Secret List⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.secretlux.com/secretlist/] chat with Hairy, the charismatic force behind Vicky’s Bread alongside his wife Vicky Harford, delivering artisanal sourdough to the finest independent shops, cafes, and restaurants across Devon and Cornwall for nearly two decades. When we caught up with him at the Porthleven Food Festival, where he curates the Food and Farming tent, his no-nonsense approach to bread and business was immediately apparent. A passionate champion of traditional baking methods – “You do it how it was meant to be made. No additives”, Hairy embodies the authentic spirit of Cornwall’s independent food scene. Beyond baking, he’s a fierce advocate for small producers, personally selecting only Cornish vendors for both the Porthleven Food Festival and Royal Cornwall Show. His commitment extends to supporting emerging talent, sometimes offering reduced rates to help newcomers gain exposure. 🥖 With strong opinions on everything from the “desert” created by supermarket culture to the extraordinary walks of West Cornwall, Hairy offers a refreshingly unfiltered perspective on Cornwall’s food landscape, celebrating the madness and creativity that makes the region’s independent food scene truly special. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Secret List⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.secretlux.com/secretlist/]⁠⁠⁠⁠ for links to everything featured in this episode. And remember to follow us to be the first to listen to our latest episodes.

EP8. Mick Smith from Porthminster Cafe in St. Ives

Our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Secret List⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.secretlux.com/secretlist/] chat with Mick Smith, the culinary heart behind the acclaimed Porthminster Cafe in St Ives, a stunning beachfront restaurant he’s helmed for over 20 years. Originally from Australia, Mick “stumbled across St Ives with a backpack” 24 years ago and never left, transforming from backpacker to respected restaurateur. His ocean-to-plate philosophy shines through his seafood-focused menu, complemented by ingredients from the restaurant’s own vegetable garden and foraged seaweeds from the surrounding coastline. 🦞 When we watched Mick’s cookery demonstration on the beach during the St Ives Food Festival, it was memorably interrupted by a local fisherman who arrived by boat directly onto the sand, delivering fresh shellfish straight to Mick mid-cooking demonstration – a perfect illustration of the immediate connection between ocean and plate that defines his cooking. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Secret List⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.secretlux.com/secretlist/]⁠⁠⁠⁠ for links to everything featured in this episode. And remember to follow us to be the first to listen to our latest episodes.