Our Chefs & Brew Masters
Here at Tideswell School of Food we work with a range of specialist chefs, cooks and master brewers to ensure that our customers get the best possible tuition and guidance on their chosen course.
Joe Hunt - Head Chef Tutor
Our Head Chef Tutor, Joe Hunt, is a young and energetic chef with a great passion for sharing his culinary expertise. After training at High Peak College, Joe went on to set up his own business which he successfully ran for six years before heading off on his travels. Joe travelled for a year around Australia, New Zealand, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam where he learnt about the local food culture and styles of cuisine. Since then Joe has worked locally in traditional pubs and fine dining restaurants and is passionate about cooking with locally sourced, seasonal food. Joe is one of our most popular chef tutors, with his approachable manner and relaxed teaching style, he will make sure that you have a great time on your course here at the School of Food.
Jeff Thomas
Jeff has over 45 years’ experience in the food industry and has worked in multi-rosette and Michelin star restaurants all over the world. Jeff has many accolades to his name including Master Chef of Great Britain, Master of the Craft Guild of Chefs and Culinary Academy, and multi medal winner at international Salon Culinaire. He is extremely passionate about sharing his knowledge and expertise and this is reflected in his teaching – he is happy to answer any questions you may have and will definitely help you to build on your cookery repertoire.
Dave Golubows
Dave is a fantastic chocolatier and has over 17 years’ experience in the chocolate industry. Dave has his own successful chocolate business based in Castleton called CocoaDance which has produced chocolates for many famous retailers including Harrods, Harvey Nichols, Liberty’s and Selfridges to name but a few. And Dave’s claim to fame doesn’t end there; he also made chocolates for the BAFTA’s in 2001-2, and has been featured on TV programs such as Country Tracks, Country File, Rory Bremner’s Great British Views and the Good Food Channel.
Joanne Elliott
Born and bred in the Hope Valley and a former student of High Peak College in Buxton, Jo went on to start her own catering business, Jo's Pantry, and is still very busy with functions locally and regionally. In 2005, she qualified as a lecturer and has worked in schools and colleges and for the local authority as a tutor. Recently, she has completed training as a diet and nutrition advisor and she really is passionate about good food, money saving and family cookery.
Stephanie Clubb
Having spent over 17 years in working in Food Science and a spell of working in food manufacturing Steph decided to embark on a lifelong ambition to have her own business, Edesias Kitchen, creating and sharing her passion for food. She left her career behind and embarked on a journey that has taken her to hold a Diploma in Professional Cookery and a teaching qualification.
Throughout Steph's life Bread and Pastry has always been her biggest passion and guilty pleasure, all of her spare time was put into creating recipes as well as trying out other peoples. Steph's biggest flour hero is Dan Lepard and as she also enjoys cooking the French Classics she is a big fan of Raymond Blanc. Steph has taken a lot of inspiration from both of these experts and shares her knowledge and passion through the courses that she teaches.
Prett Tejura
Prett Tejura has a passion for teaching people to cook delicious, authentic Indian food. Cooking has always been a way of life for Prett, inspired by her Gujarati heritage and encouraged by her mother, who shared the secrets of her culinary expertise with Prett from a very early age.
Since establishing her business, Curry Cuisine, over five years ago, Prett has helped many people to discover the delights of Indian food. Curry Cuisine was a finalist in the 'Best Specialist category' at the British Cookery School Awards 2012. So if you would like to learn how to make some delicious Indian food in a relaxed and informal environment, come along to one of our Indian Cookery master classes.
Steve Vardy
Steve is an expert local Chef who has taught, tutored, and trained many hundreds of caterers, cooks, and chefs. His graduates range from complete novices to Michelin starred Chefs, and he is a great example of that rare animal- a chef that can teach. Steve is committed and enthusiastic in his work and cares a lot about customers' enjoyment as well as their learning. He uses local produce in his recipes wherever possible and leads many of our skills based courses as well as producing delicious food for our Supper Club.
Trevor Jones
Trevor trained at Hollings College in Manchester and went on to work as a Commis Chef at the Midland hotel before moving on to become Sous Chef at Manchester Airport. Trevor was later appointed as Executive Chef for a hotel and restaurant group in Cornwall.
Trevor later returned to the area where he was Chef/Patron at his restaurant in Wilmslow, Cheshire and then moved into teaching at High Peak College in Buxton, where he has worked for nearly 20 years. Trevor has taught hundreds of aspiring chefs and is currently a sessional lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University.
Michelle Lindley
Michelle is a keen cook and worked in the kitchens at Eyam Hall for many years. She has a particular passion for baking and in her spare time creates novelty cakes for children's birthdays and other special occasions. Michelle's baking creativity is a superb skill, and she will be sharing her skills by not only working with local schools and heading up our children's parties but also teaching our cupcake workshop for adults along with other baking and cake decorating courses.
Helen Weightman Edge
Helen Weightman Edge is a keen preserver and owner of Nell and Lily's Preserves , a small Derbyshire-based company specialising in making and selling fine jams, pickles and preserves. Helen's bubbly personality and passion for sharing her preserving knowledge made her the perfect addition to the Tideswell School of Food team!
Emma Quinn
Emma came to England when she was 4 years old, but has always been heavily influenced by her mother's cooking and her love of Thai Street Food. Emma started cooking at the age of 11 for her mothers catering business, making spring rolls and curries, chopping and preparing vegetables. Emma has a real passion for authentic Thai food, untamed and raw, Thai cooking at it's best! Demonstrating the knowledge and know how to cook classic and dishes you would not see in Thai Restaurants.
Alex Barlow
Alex was brought up in Chester and Zambia. His passion for beer started with his first job, as cellar-man at his local pub. With over 25 years international brewing and retail trade experience, he’s a qualified Master Brewer working as a brewing consultant and presenter, sommelier and beer judge. He is author of the ALL BEER Guide, winner of four International awards including ‘Worlds Best Beer Book’ www.allbeer.co.uk.
Alex’s mission is to change people’s perceptions about beer, to get more people, especially women, drinking a wider range of beers on more occasions. He believes beer’s superior spectrum of flavours make it the ideal partner for food, yet beer is rarely matched with food in its natural home – the pub, let alone for fine dining. He wants to change that.
