DALE Spink is head chef at Cafe Deli Margaux in Town Street, Farsley. We asked him about his career and his role at the cafe deli.
Q: When did you become interested in food and cooking?
A: I became fascinated by food at a very young age. I started working in restaurants and cafes from the age of 13 and in a professional kitchen as soon as I was old enough. When I was on work experience at La Rue in Saltaire I just fell in love with it all: they offered me a job for when I left school at 17.
Q: Where did you learn your craft?
A: I did a working apprenticeship at La Rue and Leeds City College under the guidance of, Lee Wells, Ben Davis and my college tutor Stephanie Moon. I owe much of my career to these guys.
Q: Where have you worked during your career?
A: La Rue, Oulton Hall, the Golden Fleece, Birkenshaw, Le Voyage dining experience, which is my own private dining company, and all over Yorkshire with Cux Culinary Company, with the legend of catering Paul Lee.
Q: How long have you worked at Café Deli Margaux and what is your position? I’ve been there for five months as head chef and I can honestly say I’ve never been so happy.
Q: Describe Café Deli Margaux?
A: The cafe is cosy, has qreally good vibe and is in a great location in the heart of Farsley. This place is one of the most exciting I’ve ever worked at, with really understanding and driven bosses. The business is a real credit to owners Sam and James McConnell.
Q: What sort of food is on the menu?
A: We have a very creative and interesting menu including traditional classics, breakfasts and much more. We love presenting them in a modern way.
We also have monthly five-course tasting menus that allow us chefs to go wild and bring ‘fine dining’ to Farsley.
Q: What do you love about being a chef?
A: It enables me to express my inner energy and passion on to a plate, to make people happy. I like to talk about the fine details and creations. It’s my escape from the big wide world - I couldn’t be anything else.
Q: You are one of three chefs in the kitchen - are you a good team?
A: We are a really good, supportive team, close knit, passionate and willing to work for each other.
Q: What are the challenges and the best bits?
A: The challenges have been taking a normal cafe, and adapting the kitchen menu and staff to our new vision: ‘Farsley’s finest cafe bistro.’ I love teaching the chefs new things and showing Farsley that we can be the one stop shop of all things tasty and creative.
Q: As a chef do you specialise in anything?
A: I like to be versatile and try new things. I would say I specialise in taking risks and being different.
Q: How do you feel when customers send their compliments to the chef?
A: This is up there with the best feelings in the world. It is so rewarding. We chefs sacrifice so much to make people happy.
Q: Have any celebrity chefs inspired you and how?
A: Gordon Ramsay, of course, and Ellis Barry and Kray Treadwell: they bring unique aspects to cooking, but all have one thing in common- a serious passion for creativity and flavour.
Q: What are your favourite cookery programmes on TV?
A: I enjoy Great British Menu and MasterChef - maybe one day I will compete on one of them… a chef can dream.
Q: What are your ambitions/plans for the future? I want to keep progressing as a chef, a father and partner.
A: I want to Cafe Deli Margaux to be a really successful business as that’s what Sam and James deserve.
I would also like my private dining company to progress and would love to cook for more celebrities, I find such experiences interesting.
Q: What is your favourite meal?
A: I have to admit I do love a beef bourguignon.
*Cafe Deli Margaux opened in 2021 and is named after owners Sam and James’ French bulldog. The couple share a love and passion for food. After living in Farsley for 17 years they made their dream a reality and opened the eaterie.
Sam’s passion for customer service comes from her upbringing within the hospitality industry, her father having owned restaurants throughout her childhood. “I’ve learned that the best service comes with a smile and take pride in my position as front of house here at Café Deli Margaux,” she says on the cafe’s website.
James was brought up in a busy pub, from the age of five, which taught him a great deal about hospitality and catering.
“After running the kitchen for almost ten years like my wife Sam, I learned to provide the best service and food possible all with a smile on my face,” he says.
*Cafe Deli Margaux, 39 Town St, Farsley, Pudsey LS28 5HX; visit cafemargaux.co.uk.
*Would you like to take part in the Telegraph & Argus chef's profile feature? Email brief details to helen.mead@telegraphandargus.co.uk or call her on 07816 672105.
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