Chef Neil Forbes was awarded Chef of the Year at the 2011 Scottish Restaurant Awards and is soon to be the first Chef taking up the helm at Burger Burgher, the pop-up, monthly burger event that is being held across Edinburgh this year. During the day you will find him at Cafe St Honore as Chef Director of this Edinburgh-Franco institution, tucked down Thistle Street Lane.
Forbes was born into a family of Chefs in the Highland town of Pitlochry and knew from a young age that he wanted to follow the family into the food business. His first job was in a small Italian restaurant outside of London but he returned to Scotland to take up an opporutnity on the luxury Royal Scotsman train which he sites as one of the “best and craziest times” of his life, not least because he met his future wife and eventually settled in Edinburgh; taking up the Head Chef position at The Atrium, Forbes was considered one of the most exciting chefs in Scotland. Thankfully for us, Neil has chosen to stay in the Capital with his wife, two boys and equally loved motorbike!
Morning
My day starts with breakfast and a good coffee at home with the kids and Mrs Chef before I head off to Cafe St Honore on my motorbike. After I have checked the deliveries I get to start my favourite part of the day – rolling the bread dough into loaves for baking after their overnight prove. The smell of the sourdough is incredible! Then the team and I start with the kitchen prep for the day ahead. If it is a day off, I love a lazy morning with bacon rolls, the papers and perhaps a ride on my bike. An ideal lunch would be at Urban Angel as it’s very laid back with great food and beer.
Afternoon
Lunch service can be pretty hectic, hot and full on but very rewarding. I will also go through the upcoming events with the other chefs and manager and finalise the menus for the evening service before heading home for an hour or two. It is great to have that wee bit of time at home with my boys for some rough and tumble before hopping back on my bike for the evening service. This kicks off at 5:30pm and can be quite intense but really good fun. I’m not a fan of formal, stuffy food and poncy restaurants. It can be so dated and not my kind of thing, for me a great meal is all about the produce. I know all the growers and breeders who supply for the restaurant and I enjoy passing on this knowledge and traditions to the younger members of my team. There is always a bit of butchery to be done, so whole lambs and pigs are often getting boned out in the kitchen, it’s quite a sight!
Facts about Forbes:
Favourite Bar: The Kings Wark on the Shore for a pint of ipa.
Favourite Restaurant: If money was no object, the family and I would be enjoying a meal at No 1 at the Balmoral
Favourite Gallery: Open Eye Gallery and Eye 2 as I’m saving up for one, maybe two… of their pieces
Favourite Day Out: Walking around the Botanic Gardens, listening to the wind in the trees, it’s like being in the country but in the city!
Favourite Time of Year in Edinburgh: There is always something exciting going on in Edinburgh but I’m a big softie at heart, it has to be Christmas time. Going out in the cold with my boys for a hot chocolate and seeing the German Markets is always very special.
