Matthew Tomkinson looking to ‘keep that flame alive’ as he takes up role at The Terrace

Matthew Tomkinson is relishing a ‘meeting of the minds’ with owner Tom Fahey as he prepares to start work as head chef at The Terrace Yarmouth, on the Isle of Wight.

Matthew Tomkinson is next month set to take up a new role as head chef at The Terrace Yarmouth, on the Isle of Wight.

Matt, the winner of the 2005 Roux Scholarship, has held a Michelin star for much of his long career, gaining experience working at the likes of Ockenden Manor, Les Prés d’Eugénie, The Goose, The Montagu Arms and The Hambrough, prior to a recent spell at Stanwell House in his hometown Lymington.

Discussing his move to writer-turned-chef Tom Fahey’s Terrace in Yarmouth, from September 10th, Matt told The Staff Canteen: “I’m really looking forward to it. I know Tom quite well, having met him when I worked in Whiteparish. He came in as a customer and we stayed in touch.

“I ended up going to work at The Hambrough on the Isle of Wight. Tom and his wife bought a property in Ventnor, which is also called The Terrace and is stunning. Because I was literally working 100 yards away, we ended up getting to know each other, talking about food and eating quite regularly.

“Then I was looking to move on from where I had been most recently at Stanwell House. I’ll be honest, I had found a job to go to. But then Tom and I struck up a conversation and it just went from there really.”

Asked about his exit from Stanwell House, having only joined as head chef earlier this year, Matt explained: “Basically I made a mistake. It’s a wonderful place, it’s an amazing business. But, if I’m honest, I realised fairly early on it wasn’t the place for me. I probably got a little bit carried away that I was able to walk to work and I was back in my own patch.

“I didn’t enjoy all-day dining. It’s the shortest period I’ve ever had a job in my life and I’m embarrassed about that. It’s not my style at all. But I started to notice some of the fire I have for food and being a chef and being in this industry, which I’ve always had, was starting to ebb a little bit. I’ve really got to keep that flame alive.”

So what is Matt looking to bring to The Terrace?

“The real plus for me is having someone like Tom and his family at the top of the tree,” he said.

“The attitude towards it is great food is great food, great wine is great wine - it doesn’t have to be £500 a bottle or 3 Michelin stars.

“We have ideas about what the food may be like. But the food is great already, under Tom’s stewardship. It’s not going to be radical changes.

“They have a strong feeling towards keeping staff, making them happy and giving them what they need at work and away from work. That absolutely chimes with me.

“We’re not going to throw the baby out with the bath water. We’ll use my considerable experience and knowledge of the island. We’re going to try and keep it fresh, modern but embracing classical cookery, which is my foundation, so great sauces, great fundamentals in the kitchen and lighting it up slightly. It’s not a fish restaurant, by any means, but making fish a focus.”

 

 

 

 

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Matt added: “Tom has come to being a chef and running kitchens from a different background to me. I find that fascinating. I’ve tried very hard in my life to not get stuck in my ways. I see that around me a lot and really detest it. Having that meeting of minds with Tom where he sees it from a different perspective is going to be fascinating to me. Tom speaks frankly and straight to the point, as I like to do about stuff. There’s no messing around and we can end up with a better offer with a meeting of minds.”

The Terrace, listed in both the Michelin and Good Food Guides, opens seven days a week from June to September and Thursday to Monday between October and March.