Gareth Spencer Jones – a food consultant, cook, traveller, husband and father of two boys.
For the past 30 years I have worked with many large and mid-size food companies, as well as consulting with some of the big supermarkets. I have helped shape their vision, improve their products, take on new ideas and generally make a better fist of what they do. It’s far more engaging that this, but here I must be brief.
Here’s how I started. I had a Damascene moment when first visiting France as a youngster – a month living with an exchange family who had fled Spain during the Civil War to set up a new life in the Aveyron. Grandma’ had one of the town’s main café bar and we all had our jobs. I began as plongeur and finished the month promoted to garçon. This experience gave me – years later to appreciate – a twist on the story. I’d been raised in a farming household eating well and in season – but eating it was, no more
In France with three generations of the Viargues family, I learned to enjoy the best there was and take my time at table.
Food is my passion. I eat like a sparrow, but cook like a giant. I have surrounded myself with food people since my teenage years.
Dare I say, I am a gastronome. No day passes when I don’t celebrate and thank God for what we have.
I have spent time in the best kitchens in France and Belgium, been to market with top chefs. Everything I know is by observation, questionning and a deep desire to know why.
I want to share all this with you. I have run culinary workshops for 25 years or more for everyone from the big supermarkets to top food editors – my mission was always to have attendees leaving exclaiming “I didn’t know that” – and saying that at least three times. Knowledge is for sharing, not for harbouring.
As to the descriptor above. I am lucky to be married to a fine cook who has travelled extensively through Asia and the America’s. Our two boys are special – they love junk food as much as great food. If only to be their age again.
Gareth
Love the website and blog……have you tried the new confits they are selling in Waitrose from Luculls? They are devine as well as being novel, being sold from the cheese counter.
Would be good to catch up soon.
Regards
David
Hi Gareth,
Love the website. Lucullus products sound great – wonder do they provide taster packs for Christmas?
Keep writing.
Paul
A great read ! Looking forward to the next articles.
Lucullus and confit are flying off the shelves in Carrefour!
Merry Christmas / Joyeux Noël !
Jane
Keep looking. You will see a continuing theme emerge.
Gareth
Hiya, Gareth! Long time no see – have been wondering what happened to you. Very impressed by your website – keep writing. Best wishes, Deh-Ta
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Love the web site. Great to have found my food hero after all these years!
What did you think I was doing in the kitchen at Spring Gdns then?
Splendid to be back in touch c/o Tricia.
GX
Very nice to meet you at the RFF. I hope the Nilgiri green tea is doing the trick. Still thinking about following your idea of a Saturday outing to Boulogne’s marché – sounds wonderful.
Thanks Clare. The Nilgiri Green is a real treat says Joy. Anytime you want guidance re: Boulogne just say. I was serious about retailers too – there’s more learning in that town than they’ll find on their long haul travels.
G
Gareth
I have just come across your blog on Thomas TC100 china and the fact that it is now being produced in China. I have had the TC100 china since 1968 and replaced bits and pieces now and then as necessary so I was gutted to find that Thomas ceased manufacture in 2010. Do you have any more information on the current supply?
Peter Ray
It’s actually a nice and helpful piece of info. I’m satisfied that you simply shared this helpful information with us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.
Good to have people setting and maintaining the standards … that’s my definition of leadership. So, Gareth, thanks for leading.
Jeffrey Hyman
Chairman
The Food & Drink Innovation Network
PS Gareth and I used to play together at Sharwood’s when we taught the west to Stir-Fry
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