Norfolk


<p>When we sat down to ask Gary Hunter, chef extraordinaire, culinary educator and Norfolk&#8217;s answer to Willy Wonka, <em>what&#8217;s cooking?</em> We were a bit worried he was going to drag us into the kitchen at his cookery school, <a href="https://norfolk.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/hunters-academy-of-food-helhoughton/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hunters Academy of Food</a>, and set us to work. Luckily this was not the case (you can all breathe a sigh of relief) and we were able to leave the cooking to Gary and his classes of culinary hopefuls where he has them whipping up everything from macarons and croissants to, of course, chocolate.</p>



<p>Though round here he is best known for the academy and fuelling our sugar cravings with <a href="https://hunterschocolate.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hunters Chocolates</a>. Before setting up shop in Norfolk in 2023, Gary&#8217;s glittering culinary career saw him travelling the world, scooping up awards, penning several cookery books and teaching Jamie Oliver and Andrew Wong a thing or two about cooking at the legendary Westminster College (aka Westminster Kingsway). Here&#8217;s everything else you need to know about the man behind your favourite chocolates. Over to you, Gary. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/09/369932044_207375378999838_4080269336035297849_n.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-56495" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/09/369932044_207375378999838_4080269336035297849_n.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/09/369932044_207375378999838_4080269336035297849_n-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/09/369932044_207375378999838_4080269336035297849_n-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/09/369932044_207375378999838_4080269336035297849_n-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/09/369932044_207375378999838_4080269336035297849_n-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-did-you-always-want-to-be-a-chef-who-or-what-inspired-your-love-of-food">Did you always want to be a chef? Who or what inspired your love of food?</h4>



<p>I actually wanted to be a professional footballer, but food and cookery was a very close second. Our family environment and their encouragement of collectively cooking, eating and sitting around the dinner table inspired my love of food to begin with. That and as a young boy watching <em>The Galloping Gourmet</em> on TV.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-galloping-gourmet-now-that-s-a-throwback-what-was-your-first-job-in-a-kitchen-nbsp"><em>The Galloping Gourmet</em>, now that&#8217;s a throwback! What was your first job in a kitchen?&nbsp;</h4>



<p>After I graduated from City College Norwich back in the Eighties I was a commis chef for a local hotel group in Norwich (the old Hotel Norwich and Nelson).</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-career-highlight-nbsp">Career highlight?&nbsp;</h4>



<p>Too many highlights to mention &#8211; and hopefully the best is yet to come &#8211; but working with some of the best chocolatiers and chefs in the world is right up there, as is leading the very first UK Pastry Team in the World Pastry Championships in Arizona, USA. Oh, and representing the UK as a judge for the World Chocolate Masters is an incredible moment for me.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/09/Hunters-Academy-of-Food-LBB7.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-56476" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/09/Hunters-Academy-of-Food-LBB7.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/09/Hunters-Academy-of-Food-LBB7-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/09/Hunters-Academy-of-Food-LBB7-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-did-you-do-a-lot-of-cooking-for-the-rich-and-famous">Did you do a lot of cooking for the rich and famous?</h4>



<p>Yes, everyone from footballers to Joanna Lumley and most of the royal family, including King Charles.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-any-goss">Any goss?</h4>



<p>I couldn’t spill the beans with any gossip, but we have a famous rock star who loves eating our chocolates with a bottle of Krug Champagne!&nbsp;</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-classy-how-would-you-sum-up-your-cooking-style-and-food-philosophy">Classy! How would you sum up your cooking style and food philosophy?</h4>



<p>Classic French cookery because that is how I was trained – especially in patisserie, boulangerie and chocolate. My food philosophy is to use the best ingredients I can find on a seasonal basis, and be as sustainable as possible. This is why we are so careful with our use of single origin and single estate cocoa.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-most-memorable-moment-at-work-nbsp">Most memorable moment at work?&nbsp;</h4>



<p>Being on James Martin’s Cookery TV show earlier this year &#8211; a pivotal moment in the very young life of our business.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-you-re-tired-starving-and-impatient-what-do-you-cook-for-dinner-nbsp">You’re tired, starving and impatient: what do you cook for dinner?&nbsp;</h4>



<p>Scrambled eggs on lightly toasted sourdough toast with the eggs cooked ‘baveuse&#8217; &#8211; just soft and finished with butter, cream and black pepper. I always make more scrambled eggs than I think I need!</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/09/415982346_282042454866463_6783621880844496572_n.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-56491" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/09/415982346_282042454866463_6783621880844496572_n.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/09/415982346_282042454866463_6783621880844496572_n-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/09/415982346_282042454866463_6783621880844496572_n-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-glad-it-s-not-just-us-what-would-you-cook-to-impress-a-date-nbsp">Glad it&#8217;s not just us! What would you cook to impress a date?&nbsp;</h4>



<p>My wife, Nichola, loved my wild mushroom risotto (learned from Marco Pierre White), but now it would probably be locally caught fresh cod with freshly picked samphire and a cockle and brown shrimp butter sauce. Followed by a few of my chocolates!</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-who-is-your-favourite-chef">Who is your favourite chef?</h4>



<p>There are too many to mention, but if pushed it must be a local legend – and my best friend – Richard Hughes. He is a constant inspiration, with a great sense of humour, and a fellow long-suffering Hammer!</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-do-you-have-a-favourite-cookbook-nbsp">Do you have a favourite cookbook?&nbsp;</h4>



<p>Can I have three? <em>My Gastronomy</em> by Nico Ladenis, <em>Patisserie</em> by the Roux Brothers and <em>White Heat</em> by Marco.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="729" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/09/415289515_282042711533104_7745853298480592898_n.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-56490" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/09/415289515_282042711533104_7745853298480592898_n.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/09/415289515_282042711533104_7745853298480592898_n-800x583.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/09/415289515_282042711533104_7745853298480592898_n-768x560.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-favourite-local-cafe-restaurant-hotel">Favourite local café? Restaurant? Hotel?</h4>



<p>Breakfast at <a href="https://www.theoldstorenorfolk.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Old Store</a> in Snettisham, elevenses at <a href="https://www.birchamwindmill.co.uk/bakery.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bircham Windmill</a> for the doughnuts, lunch at <a href="https://www.thegintrapinn.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Gin Trap</a> in Ringstead, afternoon tea at <a href="https://www.assemblyhousenorwich.co.uk/afternoon-tea">The Assembly House</a> in Norwich, and then dinner at <a href="https://www.meadowsweetholt.com">Meadowsweet</a> restaurant in Holt.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-your-favourite-type-of-cuisine-nbsp">What’s your favourite type of cuisine?&nbsp;</h4>



<p>French, closely followed by every other style and type of cuisine. I just love food really.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-favourite-things-to-eat-when-you-re-on-holiday-nbsp">Favourite things to eat when you’re on holiday?&nbsp;</h4>



<p>Anything local and <em>always </em>fresh.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-favourite-kitchen-gadget-nbsp">Favourite kitchen gadget?&nbsp;</h4>



<p>My Bamix hand blender, I can’t be without it.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="927" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/09/Gary-Hunter_n-927x1000.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-56473" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/09/Gary-Hunter_n-927x1000.jpg 927w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/09/Gary-Hunter_n-741x800.jpg 741w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/09/Gary-Hunter_n-768x829.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/09/Gary-Hunter_n.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 927px) 100vw, 927px" /></figure>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-favourite-ingredient-and-why-nbsp">Favourite ingredient and why?&nbsp;</h4>



<p>Chocolate – it just has to be! You’re always learning something new with this valuable ingredient and it never ceases to amaze, inspire and surprise me.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-most-overrated-dish-ingredient-nbsp">Most overrated dish/ingredient?&nbsp;</h4>



<p>Halloumi cheese – I’ve had better flavour and texture from the soles of my trainers!</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tell-us-your-best-ever-cooking-tip-nbsp">Tell us your best ever cooking tip?&nbsp;</h4>



<p>Season – taste – and season again. Too many chefs don’t taste their food whilst cooking which is a cardinal sin in my book.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dish-you-are-most-proud-of-creating">Dish you are most proud of creating?</h4>



<p>I’m always proud of the latest <a href="https://hunterschocolate.co.uk/chocolate-shop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hunters Chocolate Collection</a>. They are always seasonal which gives me scope to create some great flavour combinations that reflect the time of the year.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/09/451318676_17905112274004700_6404790964453011804_n.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-56481" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/09/451318676_17905112274004700_6404790964453011804_n.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/09/451318676_17905112274004700_6404790964453011804_n-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/09/451318676_17905112274004700_6404790964453011804_n-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-as-you-are-renowned-for-your-chocolates-and-sweet-treats-what-are-your-favourites">As you are renowned for your chocolates and sweet treats &#8211; what are your favourites?</h4>



<p>My favourite dessert changes depending on what the time of year it is. Eating a dessert with the season’s first Gariguette strawberries is a big favourite of mine, rhubarb crumble is also top of my list alongside a fabulous gâteau Pithivier, straight from the oven. A good chocolate – dark or milk – with pistachio gianduja is my favourite sweet treat.</p>



<p><em>Sample Gary&#8217;s chocolate from <a href="https://hunterschocolate.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hunters Chocolate</a> available online and in the shop in Holt, or if you fancy making your own try out a class at <a href="https://huntersacademyoffood.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hunters Academy of Food</a>.</em></p>


What’s cooking? Chef Gary Hunter of the iconic Hunters Chocolate

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