Great British Menu 2020 chefs: Alex Claridge, Central heat
Ahead of Great British Menu heading to our screens this month, The Staff Canteen is introducing the competition’s contestants!
Alex Claridge is the chef-owner of The Wilderness in Birmingham.
Known for his shamelessly honest approach, Alex is known for not mincing his words. This bold personality is reflected in his food; it's irreverent, outrageous and unique.
"At the risk of sounding proper fucking soppy, I quite like the fact that food is universal - you don't need to speak English to understand good food and that ability to bring people together is a really big thing for me."
Music was Alex's first love. His band recorded an album when he was 18 and he hated it so much that he quit music and sold his guitars. When he was looking for a new, creative hobby, he found cooking.
Unorthodoxly, he hadn't worked in many restaurants before opening The Wilderness, citing "bistros, cafes, pubs across Birmingham, Manchester, London" and "some stages and bits and bobs in Los Angeles" as his work experience.
His advice for aspiring chefs? "Give fewer fucks, make mistakes, learn as much as you can. Don't sweat the small stuff, no one gets out alive."
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