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Andrew Hirst, Executive Chef

Discover how Andrew Hirst became an Executive Chef for Milsom Hotels and Restaurants.

Multiple images of Adrian, including a nlack and white photo of him working, a childhood photo wearing a chef's hat, and another image of him working in the kitchen

Why do I love my job: What I’m most enthusiastic about in my current job role, apart from evolving dishes and menus throughout the business, must be passing on my knowledge to others and aiding their progression. I also spend a lot of time working with colleges locally to bridge a gap between finishing qualifications and working in the industry. I find this very rewarding and love to see young talented individuals progress in the industry.  

What did I love doing at school: My main interests at school were PE, Maths and Business studies. Although cookery wasn’t an interest at school these other subjects have aided my career. The more you progress through the ranks in kitchens the more you must be quite savvy with maths when it comes to costing dishes etc and having general understanding of how businesses work will always be a positive. 

Childhood hobbies: I was a keen football player throughout my childhood, unfortunately my skill level wasn’t up to scratch to make it as a pro 

How to get into the sector: I fell into it really, I was planning to go to university to study accountancy; whilst saving for a gap year I got a part-time job in a hotel kitchen which lit the spark inside me so I decided to go down a completely different career path. 

Related jobs: Kitchen porter, waiters, restaurant manager, sous chef, prep chef. 

Career high: Has to be my 2 years working in New York City at one of the top 50 restaurants in the world. The people I met, the methodical approach to food and service and the drive to deliver the best on a daily basis has to be my highlight as it really set me up for my career since. 

Top tip: My one single top tip from kitchens and hospitality is you get out of it what you put in, hard work and dedication will always pay off in this industry and there are so many avenues to go down, so many trends, so many new and inspiring products it just evolves all the time. - Andrew Hirst, Executive Chef

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