North Hampshire Lifestyle Jul - Aug 2023

OUR FISHMONGER BOXES COME
WITH ‘HOW TO’ VIDEOS TO WALK
YOU THROUGH THE PROCESS, AND
WE HAVE A YOUTUBE CHANNEL
EXPLAINING HOW TO COOK WITH
DIFFERENT SPECIES – IT WAS GREAT
TO MAKE THESE EDUCATIONAL
VIDEOS.
“classes, returning to the school to cook whatever we catch. We
also take participants to the farm where we get our produce
from, so they get a full understanding of what goes on behind
the scenes and to meet our suppliers.
SO THAT IS BASED IN PADSTOW? I WAS THINKING
ABOUT YOU THE OTHER DAY BECAUSE I KNOW HOW
MUCH YOU ENJOY LIVING IN THAT PART OF THE
WORLD. I THOUGHT THAT IF YOU WERE A STICK OF
ROCK IT WOULD HAVE PADSTOW RUNNING ALL THE
WAY THROUGH.
Whilst I have a big affinity to Padstow, Trevone (which is just a
mile away) has a massive place in my heart as that’s where I’m
from.
IT’S LOVELY TO HAVE ROOTS LIKE THAT
It’s great - you see smiling faces and get a friendly wave from
the locals and there’s a real sense of community.
I FEEL JUST THE SAME. NOW, THE STEIN’S AT HOME
FISH DELIVERY BOXES - TELL ME ABOUT THEM.
We started them in lockdown as we wanted to get as
many people back to work in the business as possible. We
saw Hawksmoor, the steak restaurant, selling successful
restaurant kits and wanted to be a part of this new wave of
home deliveries. We launched Stein’s at Home and an Online
Fishmongers, which sells incredible fresh fish and seafood
boxes fresh from our Cornish supplier – he will pick the fish up in
the morning, bring it back to us, and pack it to send that exact
day. So, rather than buying from a shelf in the supermarket,
which might have been hanging around for a few days, it is
extremely fresh. Fresh fish is very hard to come by, especially
sea bass, turbot, lobster and crab. We think we’ve found a gap
in the market providing that service and we’re so pleased with all
the positive feedback from customers.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE FISH?
You can’t go wrong with mackerel - it’s really healthy, it’s good
for you and I just love it. I think some people are a little scared
about cooking fish. Maybe they cook it too long, or they’re just
not used to it. What we eat now has changed quite radically and
with fast food, diets have changed. Our fish boxes come with
‘how to’ videos to walk you through the process, and we have
a YouTube channel explaining how to cook different species – it
was great to make these educational videos.
THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE TO ASK. YOU HAVE A
SPECIAL ROLE IN THE BUSINESS?
Yes indeed, I am Chef Director across the Rick Stein
Restaurants, which means I’m overseeing the whole process.
Not just the restaurants, but also online, retail and training,
which is exciting.
DIDN’T YOU HAVE ENOUGH TO DO BEFORE…?
I love what I do and helping the family business grow from
strength to strength is so rewarding. I have a brilliant Executive
Chef who does a lot of day-to-day restaurant operations,
meaning I can focus more on strategy, but I still love getting into
the kitchen.
HOW WERE YOU AFFECTED BY THE LOCKDOWNS?
The Online Fishmonger boxes and Stein’s at Home meal kits
were a pivot really, which enabled us to keep some money in
the business. We wanted to keep things going, especially the
fresh fish business, and it was great to see a demand from
our customers who wanted restaurant quality meals at home.
People trust Rick Stein as a brand to source the best and
freshest fish possible.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO
SHARE WITH OUR READERS?
I’m excited to announce that I’m on Cooking With The
Stars, which is returning in June, on ITV Prime Time. I’m
also continuing to build our online fish box offering with new
innovations for home delivery across the UK. The atmosphere
in Cornwall over summer is always electric, so I’m looking
forward to successful months ahead and, of course, some good
weather!
Jack’s cookbook: Jack Stein’s World on a Plate: Bloomsbury &
Absolute Press is available to purchase from:
https://shop.rickstein.com/, as well as all good book stores.