Paul Linden

From an early age I have been infatuated by food, and enjoyed cooking, so I decided to become a chef.

I attended Westminster Hotel School, London from 1984 – 1987 where I gained my City & Guilds 706 1 & 2 chefs exams, Hotel School Diploma in Professional Cookery and O.N.D in Hotel & Catering Management. All in 3 years !!!

1984 - 1987
I gained valuable work experience at Claridges, Royal Bath Hotel, Bournemouth and Aspinalls, London.

1987 - 1989
Chef / Chef Manager for Sutcliffe catering at various sites such as Kodak, Heathrow airport and other locations, and eventually became area chef manager.

1989 - 1992
Manager @ Dining in Style and worked along side the previous owner and gained significant experience both in the kitchen and front of house.

1992 - 1995
Chef Tournant at BP Oil, catering for 1500 lunches a day and was envolved in the food production for the Directors in the Directors Fine Dining Suite.

1995 - Present
Chef  @ Food For Thought

I have developed an understanding of food, service and attention to detail from some of the top mentors in the business, and to add to my knowledge I have dined at some of the best restaurants in the UK, such as The Waterside Inn, The Aubergine (Gordon Ramsey) L’Ortolan & The Landmark Hotel (John Burton-Race) Le Manoir Quat Saisons, The Savoy Grill, The Ivy, The Restaurant (Marco Pierre White) Loccanda Locatelli & Quaglinos, to name just a few.

Some of Paul`s memorable moments.

1995 - Presented Christmas Cakes to Mrs Major & Mrs Clarke @ 11 Downing Street.

1996 - Catered a Dinner Party for Margaret Thatcher.

1997 - Desserts for The Brit Awards !!

2004 - Lunch @ RNOH Stanmore for HRH Prince Andrew.

2007 - Catered a Dinner Party at a clients home in Northwood for their guests, a few of the "Eastenders" cast and Nigel Barden (BBC TV & Radio Food Critic)

2008 - Cooked in Celebrity Chef Kitchens @ Grand Designs Live with  John Burton-Race.