The Public Nuisance Podcast #071 “Westie Thing” with Jordan McMahon

Welcome to a new episode of The Public Nuisance Podcast with me, Sean McComb.

This week we welcome Jordan McMahon to the podcast.

We cover getting sacked during Covid and starting from nothing, going from Starbucks to building a private chef business, learning cocktails from scratch and turning them into a USP, cooking in strangers’ homes and creating full dining experiences, why Ireland plays it safe with food and how to push people out of their comfort zones, scallop conversions and learning to actually taste what you serve, restaurant pressure versus creative freedom, toxic kitchen culture, long hours and burnout, drugs in hospitality and choosing a different path, dealing with ego in kitchens and surviving high-pressure environments, leading teams and spotting who actually cares, building menus around people not just plates, adapting to any kitchen from student flats to luxury homes, wild house parties and unforgettable clients, dancing guests, awkward moments and real human connections, working non-stop with no sleep, caffeine abuse and pushing through exhaustion, balancing grief, loss and business without stopping, taking risks on big opportunities like cooking abroad for hundreds, networking, rejection and chasing high-level clients, sliding into DMs versus real-life connections, building relationships that actually matter, supportive partners and having someone who keeps you grounded, handling success, jealousy and people trying to drag you back, dealing with police stops over “suspicious” chef equipment, Belfast culture, humour and madness, protests, opinions and everyday chaos, why betting on yourself is the only way forward and much more.

New episodes every Tuesday.

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Sean McComb

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seanmccomb/ 

Killen Studios

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/killenstudio/ 

Website: https://killenstudios.com/

That Prize Guy

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatprizeguy/ 

Website: https://thatprizeguy.co.uk/

The Wing Society

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewingsociety/

Transcript

From Covid Sacking To New Start

SPEAKER_01 0:07

Welcome to the Pope Needs Podcast. Right here in Killing Studios, we can get all your content. Photo shoots and podcasts, video editing, whatever you need, we've got it right here. How did you get how did you get involved in like okay? Obviously you're a chef, but like how did you what what made you come up with this idea? What with your name?

SPEAKER_00 0:29

Honestly, it was we came out of COVID. Um my family ended up getting sick through it. Worked in a restaurant that was on the waterfront. I phoned them and was like, I can't come in. And I got terminated for it.

SPEAKER_04 0:41

Seriously?

Adding Cocktails To Stand Out

SPEAKER_00 0:43

It was like, alright, then sweet. My sister's like, you need you need a job, you got bills to pay. And I'm like, Yeah, fair enough. And he's like, I can't go back to restaurants. Like, people don't understand it. They were open, but like at the time they were they weren't making money because COVID is like here, we're open, but we can take 15 people and our 200 center. And at the time my head wasn't on it anymore. It was like working for that guy just made it worse. And she's like, Work at a coffee shop. And I'm like, nah. She's like, Yeah, but you have no money. And I was like, Yeah, fair enough. So we started working at a Starbucks. And then my mate one day, he's really into the gym, he wanted a meal prep done. You know the background, he's like, I'll pay you a fiver for every prep that you do. And I'm like, aye, whatever. For me it was nothing. And he's like, You can really do something. I said, Nah, I don't want to be dealing with like the like the prep side of it. I'd rather do what I did before. And one day you just get frustrated. He's like, then cooking people's house then. And I was like, sweet, give me three weeks, we'll come up with a concept, and I'll cook for you and your girlfriend. We hadn't have a concept at that time. It was like it was yeah, we were like, what can we do, make this different? Because everyone's like seen private chefs in America and stuff. And then I was like, I need to make this different. Everyone loves wine and stuff, but there's no you can't put life on it. So I was like, we're gonna do cocktails. I've never worked in a bar in my life. Like COVID taught me to make cocktails, and we're like, right, well, if I can learn to cook, I can learn to make a cocktail. It's kind of the same dynamic, just liquid. And then we did his first one, and at the time, even thinking back to the prices I was doing them at, and I was like, I wasn't making money. Yeah. Like it was only this year, it's like we need to start looking at profits and everything else. And business teaches you that, not nothing teaches you that, like school. I remember we'd finished with him, and it was just he looked at me and was like, You need to run with, it's gonna suck for like a while, and it does sometimes, where you're like you're just on the cusp of making something and breaking through for yourself, yeah, but something will drag you back down. But then you see the freedom in it. Like if you wait you work for someone, someone's gonna always be like, We can't do this, can't do that. Who's gonna tell you off yourself?

SPEAKER_01 2:54

You wanna do what you feel you wanna do, even if it doesn't work. Oh yeah, like force most happy.

SPEAKER_00 3:00

The amount of people in the past four years were like, Oh, it's so stupid, and I was like, You can believe that all you want. But no one comes ten to years down the line and I could buy your house outright, yeah, go talk then. 100%. But the freedom you can have to do like sp specifically with food, because restaurants can be very restrictive, even though like there's defined island stuff, like it's still restrictive. One for cost, but two, Ireland doesn't really have a very imaginative mind. It's potatoes and meat, yeah. Don't want to move away from that, that's their safety even. Like America and like more like European countries, they're a lot more open to it.

SPEAKER_01 3:35

But here they're like, mmm, yeah, stick to what they know, it's like scarred the prancer really. Oh, yeah. The only time I would prunce you is if I went to find in them because it's fine then, you trust yeah you just trust it's gonna be good. Also you're paying the price for it, like. I remember fucking going to dinner like and I was like, I'm gonna get scallops. And I just thought it was potato scallops. It was a scallops, fish scallops, and I don't like a fish. And I was like, What the fuck? That's not a potato, someone may want a potato, it's a fish, it's a scallops. I says, Yeah, potato scallops. He says, Don't say potato scallops, it says scallops, it's a fish. And I went, Oh fuck, I don't want them. And then my brother was like, Sean, try them for fuck's sake. And I tried them and they were great.

SPEAKER_00 4:21

And I was like, What the fuck give me more of them? That's a main thing.

SPEAKER_01 4:24

So I was like that made me prance out, it made me step out of my comfort zone because again it was just a set menu and uh not not a set manual. Well I it was like two or three options of each six star, but you know where the menu goes. And I was like, I'll have M scalps. And then I came and I tried them, and I'm glad I did. And then it makes you prance out, it makes you uh appreciate it for it a wee bit more. Big shout out to that praise guy helping plenty of people win plenty of praises, head on over to their page, see what's in store for you. Imagine you won. Imagine you won. You watched this episode and you thought, fucking I'll do the prize guy, you know what? I'm gonna do it now. And you won a big prize. All you have to do is buy me a pen. That's it. So head on over to their Instagram, check out their link, see what praise are in store for you. Big shout out to the Wing Society on the Lisbon Road, the best chicken tenders this side of the Mississippi. I'm telling you, finger licking I'm telling you, nah, you'll not be licking your fingers, you'll be sucking them. Because it's that good. Do you hear me? Get yourself down to Wing Society, try out their tenders, try out their burgers, try all their sauces. On real.

Getting People To Trust New Food

SPEAKER_00 5:43

A hundred percent. Like when we do this stuff, because we build menus to people, people are a lot more less hesitant because we're building it for them. So they they have more trust in me where I'm like, I know what I can do and I know it's gonna work. But there's been people that like they'll have something on the menus, like, I really don't like that. And it's like, we'll see. Yeah. They'll try it and they'll be like, what did you do differently? It's like I cooked it right, yeah. It's properly that's the mad thing, people don't like it's a lot of people in Ireland don't like foot but like fish, and it's a shame 'cause it's one of our biggest things here.

SPEAKER_01 6:15

I wonder I know it's mad, like but like I agree with you in saying a lot of people don't like fish, but there's a wee fish though up at uh up in Finiki where I live, per se uh the Monane Garage every Friday and it's fucking f packed to the rafters from early morning.

SPEAKER_00 6:30

I give one of those eat like 60 years of age, man.

SPEAKER_01 6:32

I know they're all old probably, but I'm like my my granny would still cook fish on Friday. Fish to chomp, chop and fish, brown fish, and I'm like, nah, but nah, I do like fish now. But like f I didn't eat fish until I was like 25. So like five years, six years from now, I'm 33. Here am I again? Eight years ago. Fuck me. I'm getting old.

SPEAKER_00 6:54

I was the same when I started in kitchens, but like when you're in that atmosphere, they do not care what you don't and do like. Yeah, like you're gonna taste it because you have to serve it to someone, and that breaks it down really quick. That you like you have to eat everything. You cannot like it, but you still need to know what it tastes before you give it to someone. I know. And when we've learned it from doing all this, like I have to know what everything's gonna be because it's my rep. Yep. Like everyone seems to be. Do you try?

SPEAKER_01 7:18

Would you trial a dish yourself or do you just know because you're a chef? Just to eat like, would you try a bit of a regular cooking like along the way?

SPEAKER_00 7:25

So say like you're prepping, you go like everything's tasted beforehand, but if there's a dish that I have time to trial, I'm not don't trials it, my partner does. All right. Because she is the harshest critic I have. Like in my ten years, I've cooked for some of the biggest critics we have, like a sky called Yours Men, that everyone has like feared going to their restaurant. I've cooked for him four times. I've never felt pressure off him. No giving her food. I'm I have like this the shakes, because I know for a fact she'll cut me down with a minute, just like that's shit.

SPEAKER_01 7:54

That's good, but it's cute.

Big Gigs And Family Comes First

SPEAKER_00 7:56

But sometimes you want your partner to lie to you, even boost the ego. She's like, You've done better, and I'm like, that cuts it worse. No, it's really just like it's not an insult, but she's like, Yeah, I'm not angry, I'm just disappointed. When I am on, she's like, Right, I'll fix it. But then you can give it to people that haven't tried it before. Like when we started being together, we were 16. We're I'm 28 now and we're still together. And like back then she liked steakhouses, and now we have to go to the Muddler's Club every anniversary. And I'm just like, alright, that's what it was, the Tred of Scalps Muddler's Club. We ended up going last year, and it wasn't even me that pictures. I was in the Isle of Man. I was over for the the club the TT race. I was over there for two weeks, and we ended up cooking from Milwaukee. The all of our board of directors in Milwaukee, there's 40 of them, there's one of them from here, and it's a good thing they're great with house because no personality. Serious? Like, no try trying to hold a conversation. I think it's because we're Irish, we that's we do it quite easy.

SPEAKER_01 8:53

Because it's so small. Uh we're very used to greeting people as we walk by strangers, we greet strangers in the street, we're like, Why? I think it's going right. We make eye contact with someone I mean, I'm saying hello, Lick. Over there, yeah. Some fucking pervert walking down with hands in the treasure and makes eye contact, right?

SPEAKER_00 9:10

I watched your fate last night, like, I don't care, mate.

SPEAKER_01 9:13

Somebody got your hands down their treasures, pulling the front bars.

SPEAKER_00 9:18

The great one we got because I remember all of them were there, and the one dude he heard me speak and stopped and went, You're not English. And I was like, please don't call me out. Yeah. And he's like, Where are you from? He's like, Poglas, Belfast. And he's like, I'm from Ackerfeld. And I went, You're close enough. My boss is like, Why do you keep talking to him? He's like, Because he's the only one here from my country. Yeah. And he was like, But you have to cook for people? I was like, I'm cooking for him, I can talk to him too. I can multitask. And like doing that was our first like outing that was different. Like one of those ones, like, if you don't take the opportunity, it's never gonna happen. Yeah. It was like two years beforehand, ended up talking to the guy, ended up working for, and he's like, Do you want to come over to the Isle of Man for two weeks and cook for 500 people? And I was like, Oh sure, mate. He's like, You done that before? I was like, I in my head, I'm like, No, you haven't. Yeah, you've never left the country, mate. And I was like, it will work. We'll make it work. We got there and it was like a friar, and do you know like a kitchen in a house? Yeah. That was our prep kitchen. I was like, This is for 500 people, Jesus Christ. And like I remember we ended up coming home early because there's a bit of family um well a a death happen on this the Saturday, and the Fridays were Milwaukee was like the more important day. We came up I flew home the Saturday because it's like I woke up and it felt like something was off, and I was like, something's gonna happen. And and I knew you go home. Told him and he was like, Can you not just you know stay? I was like, Nah, my family member's down, I don't care how much money you could pay me, my family comes first. Yeah, and we got into the van to go and soon as checked my phone, her granddad died, and I was like, Okay. It was one of them ones like I could have made it, it's like no you couldn't have. Yeah, it's like you're in another country. But even like that was one of the ones experiences of like if you're not willing to work and grit, no matter what, like it was two weeks of like 12 to 18 hour shifts. Crazy. No days off, just go, go. And like I think we got into halfway through the sagram week, my body was just broken. Yeah, like getting out of bed, my legs would just like collapse under me. I'm like, fuck it, just crawl in, mate. I'd get downstairs and like I go through caffeine, like it's water, like Red Bull, monster, anything, because it's easy and it's fast and efficient. I think at that point I probably should have died from like so much consumption. And I was like, that was all it was like we didn't have time to eat, it was just that, and everyone's like, Are you sweet? I was like, Oh Isaac, why are you sh like vibrating?

SPEAKER_01 11:46

Yeah, and then you got a dillo in your pocket, it's like we just gotta get through it, lads.

SPEAKER_00 11:51

Whatever we need to get through it, and then we came home, and that was where I was like, right, this is this is where life's gonna teach you a real hard lesson. Cause for some reason, life wanted to teach me a hard lesson then. Yeah. Because from her granddad Anne till January, we had four deaths. We had this put down two of our animals, and my best mate told me to do one. And I'm sitting here like, could you just give me a break? Like, I remember it was we had one, my granddad passed, and I remember texting someone, it was our furthest away in Ireland, it was down in Monaghan. I remember contacting them, I was like, just to let you know that might need to be moved in case it falls on the weekend, and they're like, Oh yeah, what what's what what's happened? I was like, Oh my granddad died, and they're like, You're still gonna do it? I was like, business doesn't stop regardless.

SPEAKER_04 12:38

That's it.

SPEAKER_00 12:38

Also, if my granddaugh was still alive, he'd slap me for not doing it.

SPEAKER_01 12:41

And I remember going down and like I don't know if you've ever been down to the deeps of Managan, and we were going down this world again, it's like it's just country like everywhere.

SPEAKER_00 12:50

We were going down this country lane and it felt like forever. And I I got to the point that my brain's like, we're getting abducted. Yeah, my brain was just like, We're getting abducted. This has been a straight line for 30 minutes in the fields. And when we got to the house, we were standing outside, and it's like this is hills heavies. What's going on? But they ended up being one of the nicest people I've ever clicked for. Like they had a like a condolence card for me. Yeah. These people never met me. It's the thing that you see through this job is that you see the real people, yeah. You see what real people are actually like. Like the one I always have talked about is there's a guy, Glenn Irwin, who's a BSB writer, and if you ever see him on the BBC, he's like very like professional, yeah, to the T. Cook for him, different man. Yeah, one of the nicest men I've ever talked about.

SPEAKER_01 13:41

When you're on TV and you're you've hundreds of sponsors, oh yeah, and all the rest of it, you have to, you know, that's who you become for television. But like and then when you get the real version. See people do the real version of me. Most people do know the real version of me, but uh we'll leave it there. It can't be that bad, you're a wesie, all wesies are the same. Ah, exactly. Fucking nuts. What do you mean?

SPEAKER_00 14:03

Like that's for like my partner's a culture, and no one I go down, I'm the only like I'm like their token Westy. Because all the we're saying, we can't understand you. He's like, You can't understand me. Oh fuck. Glad you are lisping to your teeth. Yeah. And they're like, nah, you we we understand each other. He's like, I understand. But like I remember cooking for him, and at the time he'd retired, we did like a special cocktail for him, which is one of the great gifts of what we can do for this job.

SPEAKER_01 14:29

Yeah, because you can just create, you can be creative.

SPEAKER_00 14:32

Fantastic. Like being in the restaurants tonight, it's different. Yeah. Because the amount of creativity is up to me. There's no roof on the creativity anymore. It's like I remember we did his one, we did like a clarified cocktail. And if you want one in town, there's like two places that'll do it and charge you like 19 quid for it. We did two litres of this stuff for him. It was completely like perfect red, like that red, and had the number of his bike on the ice, and we did dry ice on a big tea tray. So smoked filled the room and everything. Because he as far as I was aware, he wasn't racing here anymore. Wanted to make it special for him. And then later this year he said he's coming back, and I'm just like, the entire McKenna would be great, mates. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 15:16

So glad I'm retired or not. And like hard to leave, it's supposed it's like I suppose it's like anything when you've dad kids. I was actually just watching that Tation Fury, like the the life of Tation Fury or something, but he's at Homer's family and his wife and all is trying to get him to stop, and his dad's falling out with him because he's hinting he wants to come back. But like when you do something for wrong and that's all you know, it's fucking I can only imagine. Like I'm not no, I don't believe I'm anywhere near retirement, but I can't imagine my I can't even imagine my life without boxing.

SPEAKER_00 15:48

I I can understand when it comes to that because like it's your livelihood. And my people are like, oh it's just a job. No, it's you literally give your blood sweat and tears to this thing.

SPEAKER_01 15:58

It's I know it's like people go, we need to know when to call it a day, but it's not the fact that you call it a day, it's the fact that you love doing it, and it's like it's all you know. It's it's you it's like I started boxing, I was eight. Throne probably started boxing close to eight or nine or ten, whatever age he was. He's well thirty-five now, thirty-five, coming thirty-six like yours twenty-five years, you know. Dadicated the sport, 25, 26 years of your life, your whole childhood, your whole mollyhood up the night.

SPEAKER_00 16:29

Like when it comes to like the racing stuff, I've met so many of them, and there's boys that are in like 60s and 70s. Like, we know a guy called Scooby, he's like 75 and still rides bikes. And I'm like, you got your driving license for the roads took off you, but you're gonna do 180. He's like, fuck right, yeah. Yeah, you know what, fair enough. And he's still class, but like the lads that you meet through this, you see the real humans. Yeah. Like Glenn's one of the nicest men I've ever met. And like you ever get as I see it with people, knowing you get like uh more successful in life, yeah. You find out what real people are like. Yeah, 100%. And I know for a fact he's probably seen that too, but I'm I'm not even starting yet. Yeah. And I start to say it that people don't like people succeeding, especially in this country. As soon as you start getting better than them, they're like, nah, you're coming back with us. Yeah, trying to drag you back.

SPEAKER_01 17:20

Nah, meant that's that's why there's a it was a big thing, isn't it? We're like you always see like you often see people writing on like social media saying like people are happy enough to go out and buy like a fucking Hugo Boss top. But if I if I start my own brand, no one would no one would go in bad. Nah.

SPEAKER_00 17:38

But they say you're they're your best man.

SPEAKER_01 17:40

Yeah. Do you know what I mean? It's like it's it's the same thing. Um it's it happens, that's just the way that's the way I think that's just the way we all are as people, that like it's always good to see people doing well, and if as you say, in spotter male often of people are sort of trying to drag you back and try they want you to do well but never better than them, what and that like it's m it's weirder when you get people that are genuinely nice.

SPEAKER_00 18:03

Yeah. Like we had clients last year.

SPEAKER_01 18:06

You don't trust it. Yeah. You're like, huh? You're trying to sauce them out.

SPEAKER_00 18:09

We ended up getting a client down in Lisbon, and they own two like actually Christian owns a couple. He owns Illuminate Digital, which is a marketing team, but they also own Mortha Punt, which is a competition team. We did their like their staff meet for Christmas, and it was like seven courses. This thing was mental. Like it took me three days to prep it, kind of like we did a a glow in the dark cocktail for them too, because I I wanted to do it. I had the idea and I was like, I'm doing it, but it tied into his business name.

SPEAKER_01 18:37

Is it like a like a glow stick? Like a like is it?

SPEAKER_00 18:43

Basically, I remember going.

SPEAKER_01 18:44

You didn't make it happen, like but you use like a fucking special like liquid or something?

SPEAKER_00 18:48

Special powders. Special powders, which is also why Coke Coke funny story. I remember going the client in Donegadee, and on my way home getting stopped by the police and got hell like got hell for a drug search.

SPEAKER_01 19:02

Was it Jimmy Brayson? Nah.

SPEAKER_00 19:05

He's like, I can still call it off you. Nah, like we get stopped, and because the powders we need for such things, it goes in like the molecular level of food. Yeah. So they're all white powders in a tub, and you need precision skills or drug skills. Yeah. And my dad's always told me, Don't bring them with you. You're gonna get stopped one day. And I went, but I need them. And he's like, Right, don't listen to me and whatever. And I get stabbed, and I had them in the the dash of the car. I was like, There's no way of me getting out of this. And they're like, son, what is that? And I was like, There's scales. And they handed it over to them, opened it, it's covered in white powder, and like, can you please step out of the car? And I was like, Oh fuck. Alright, here we go. And they're like, What do you do? I was like, I'm a private chef, and he was like, Why do you have scales and why is there powder? And I went, I don't have a long enough time to explain this, dude. Just test them. And he's like, No, what is it? And he was like, right, it's methyl cellulose, it's a phone agent, big name. No, you say that word to someone, they're gonna immediately think drugs. It's literally cover-up story here.

SPEAKER_01 20:07

He's gonna go you're good, you're good, I'll give me that. Let's go.

SPEAKER_00 20:10

I literally remember he had the thing in his hands and he looked at me like with his face, What? And I went, just test them, mate. And he's like, right, took me two hours sitting there, came back, and he's like, There's nothing on this, it's just drugs, but we need to take your scales. And I was like, or 25 quid.

SPEAKER_01 20:29

I get them on eight, Foxy.

SPEAKER_00 20:31

I was like, nah. And they're like, well, either we take the scales or take it down. And I was like, nah, sweet, take them. I need to get home, I work in the morning. And I remember it wasn't even the fact, it's like all the stuff's in the back. Like, we like travel with containers, so it's like one has like all the plates, one with the food, and then we have a big like cooler with um all the drink in the ice. And I was like, You could have literally opened the ice cooler seeing everything.

SPEAKER_01 20:55

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 20:55

And he was like, Nah.

SPEAKER_01 20:57

But it's not even illegal anyway, so you can't even drink as well.

SPEAKER_00 21:00

I but he could have just took my drink if he wanted to. No, no. He's taking my scales, why wouldn't he take my drink?

SPEAKER_01 21:05

Must have a cool cover of himself.

SPEAKER_00 21:06

He's like, I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 21:07

Cops take hard pillars and fuck him saying it out loud. Cops have beyond the gear, like to the group then to fucking have the resources straight down to we fucking what are they called? Evidence? We we evidence box.

SPEAKER_00 21:22

Oh, I when they're doing them drug busts, it's almost like they miraculously disappear.

SPEAKER_01 21:26

Uh-huh.

Toxic Kitchen Culture And Drugs

SPEAKER_00 21:26

Uh it's an evidence. That evidence room's real empty. But like, that's the thing with the food scene, which people find weird about me when I was younger. I didn't w have interest in it. Yeah. It's like I'm here to work, I don't care about drugs. Yeah. It's like if I it was very nil headed of me when I was younger of like I don't need drugs to be good at my job. But then you realise your body starts to break down real quick. Like when you're doing sixty, seventy hours a week back to back to back, it's you either grow used to it or you're gonna quit. And that's where the passion a lot about.

SPEAKER_01 22:03

You know a lot of like it's a gr it's a word like I don't know but like it's a thing that like a lot of shares take drugs like stuff flat out when I'm like what's the point in working? You're working for free because you've just bought a fucking bag of year for a hundred quid.

SPEAKER_00 22:18

There is a restaurant in town that I won't name that Alden take it. Like they had a broken ice cream machine in the back that was not used for ice cream. And I'm just like they also sold it out of it too. That's where two of the guys I work with got it from.

SPEAKER_01 22:33

I'm like have to be hitting your hair care for question. You're talking about you're dogging the party making a drop off.

SPEAKER_00 22:41

Not the mad thing, is it? It's one of the best restaurants in town.

SPEAKER_01 22:45

Fuck Tony, it's always it's always the way.

SPEAKER_00 22:47

If that makes you really good at your job, fair enough, but I don't want to deal with it because that has a lot of repercussions. Yeah. And like with that's one of the many reasons I needed to get out. Yeah. There's it's one of the most toxic jobs you can work in. I don't care what anyone says. They're all like, oh it's just how it is. It's like mate, I don't need to go to therapy and put my wages into a therapist just for me to go back to work to make the money again for my therapist. Maybe my therapist likes it.

SPEAKER_01 23:13

But I don't pressure, high pressure, I suppose. Well, and a kitchen high pressure, fucking long hours, smoke tight spaces, warm environment.

SPEAKER_00 23:21

That's stuff.

SPEAKER_01 23:22

Who the fuck wants to be a chef? You're really selling the dream here.

SPEAKER_00 23:25

Like Oh yeah. Like knowing people are like, I want to try it. Because like we've had people ask me, it's like, how do you deal with the pressure? And like it sounds really smart to be like you just deal with it. There's no ifs or buts about it. Like it's either you deal with it or you crack under it. But like the pressure you grow immune to it.

SPEAKER_02 23:43

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 23:43

Like knowing things are just going wrong, you eventually find a way to breathe within the chaos of it.

SPEAKER_03 23:49

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 23:50

The thing that killed it for me was ego. No, like it you have to survive with an ego in there.

SPEAKER_01 23:55

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 23:56

But there's chefs that will like push it too far. Like you will be like some places you will get physically assaulted. And you're like, that's just like no to say that's just how it is. You sound like you have Stockholm syndrome.

SPEAKER_01 24:08

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 24:08

Because you probably do at that point.

SPEAKER_01 24:10

But ever watched the show called Burr.

SPEAKER_00 24:14

Oh wow. I loved the Burr.

SPEAKER_01 24:16

That makes me like I watched it, I loved it, by the way, loved it. Proper good show like but I was just like sometimes I wasn't and I was just going, I couldn't even focus it. I was like, this is insane. Just it it it makes it it makes you almost feel what they're going through in the kitchen. And I'm like, I would just fucking lift the biggest knife and stick it at the top of someone's head and be like, get the fuck away with me. This is also why watchers can't be shed. I try, I just I I can't w one of the things that I've discovered about myself well discovered this a long time ago, is I just cannot be told what to do by anyone. Like, don't tell me what to do ever. I'll just say well I'll just I like I just don't like it.

SPEAKER_00 25:00

Don't tell me your brain immediately doesn't like to be able to do that.

SPEAKER_01 25:02

My son I've discovered now my son's the exact same, he's five, and he just can't not be told, so he has to be given absence. Like we have to say to him, like do like it it could be something good. See if I say right, Mum going to the park, nope, I'm not gone. If you're going to the park, come on, I'm not going to park. Say if I say do you want to go out in your break or do you want to go to the park? I want to go to the park. That's cool. Say if I say to him, say if I tell him he's doing something, he immediately reacts by saying on that.

SPEAKER_00 25:29

And you can't even be annoyed on him because that's you.

SPEAKER_01 25:31

I know, I know. I'd still do good no that him by the way, but uh I get pissed off. I don't know, but say if you tell him, like I go right, come on, let's go put the shoes on, he goes, Where we're going? I said, we're gonna go back. I says, somewhere to go, no, I don't want to go. And I put the shoes on, then I go put my coat on turn and he took the shoes back off again. And I'm like, we're going to a park. I don't want to go to the park. I'm like, what? Who doesn't want to go to a park? But so like even going to bed bed at night time now. It's like what do you want to do? Do you want to buy the iPad or do you want to read a book? Do you want to watch the iPod I go right no sweat? The iPad's just to go up the stairs, get into bed, and then the iPod right, get two minutes on, then boom, take it off him. And it's the only way, otherwise he's never wanna do it and there's gonna be a take a match.

SPEAKER_00 26:16

And fairness, I only know your son as we bores. Oh, we bore us.

SPEAKER_01 26:22

Fucking inner tickets, but uh that's what I mean. So I I could never have worked in the kitchen because it's just quick just.

SPEAKER_00 26:30

You do get the point with like pressure and stress that you start to look at people when they s like they're under it and they're starting to crack, it's like, what are you doing? Yeah, just deal with it. Like when we w went from restaurants to coffee shops, that was my biggest issue of leading teams was they're getting stressed over milk and cook like steaming coffee, and I was like, What are you doing?

SPEAKER_03 26:51

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 26:51

And they're like they're like, It's stressful, I was like, This is a piss buck. I could do this sleeping, yeah, and they're like, Yeah, but we're not you, and that's where you have to figure out Yeah, just thus people out, people are understanding that's it, everyone's different, suppose, isn't it like but it's also great as like a a leading standpoint, like we now have people working within the brand. It's only one of them. And it was they ended up working with the because of coffee shops. They came to work with me and then in the coffee shop they worked on whites and then they started working with me in the coffee shop. And I remember I took a booking of 17 people and I'm like, I'm fast, but I'm not that fast. Yeah. Because we didn't need to do the drinks and the food at the same time. It's like I can't make this work and make it professional. And they're like, Al come on. And I was like, Alright, sweet. We went all the way to Ross Trevor for this one. And it went so well, even though this story doesn't make it sound well, because it was two courses, it was served it all, and one of the women came up and was like, um, could the next one be non-alcoholic? And I was like, Yeah, sure, right? It's like I'm pregnant, and I'm like, class. And the thing like Carlot Burked me was behind her going, She's just told us, and I'm like, Yeah, that's great for me. I know now. And without me thinking or moving, they'd already made a non-alcoholic cocktail. We didn't bring anything, it was non-alcoholic. And I'm like, one, where did you find it? Two, far enough. Yeah. I remember we left that night and that's where you sauce out the people you want to work with. Yeah, 100%.

SPEAKER_01 28:21

Like they use this n obviously, someone there used their initiative quickly just when they can sword, boom.

SPEAKER_00 28:26

When people can match the same like mentality you have for it, the love for it, it's different. No, when you want to work with someone and they they don't have that drive, I don't want to work with you. Yeah, it's simple as that. Like you want to work with the mental patients.

SPEAKER_01 28:40

It's that vision, you have that vision, they have the same vision as you like how do you want the night to go, how they want the business to succeed, how they want the environment to be, you know, what it has to be all how's it all matched, how's it all clicked in?

SPEAKER_00 28:51

Which is the weird thing of me thinking, because before we started this, it's not a way I thought. Like it doing this taught me so much about what life's about. Yeah. And that is life doesn't care how you feel in the morning. You gotta get up and you want something hard enough you're gonna have to fight for it. Yeah, regardless. If you're tired, shit one. You're having a bad day, shit one. Like the that from June till Jin like that January, that was death, death, death. But every time one of them happened, I had I had like the first podcast I ever went on was the day after my granddaughter. The one in Manahan was his funeral. I'd put my dog down two days after having a book, and my mate told me to basically they don't want to be around me anymore. And I had a book in the next day, and I'm sitting there, it's like my body wants to react and break down, and my mind's just like you don't got enough in here, kid. And that's where you find out how much you're actually built for.

SPEAKER_03 29:46

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 29:47

Like the the mental capacity you need to be like of invincible in some sense. You can be sad and stuff, but you can still you have to push.

SPEAKER_01 29:55

Oh, wow, absolutely. Like it's life tests as well, doesn't it? Life just tests you in a race so many different ways. Like, and that's probably times they got where you either you know you're built for or you're not. Yeah. It's like it's when you look back now, you go, you know what? I know what I can with sound, I know what I can what I'm capable of, and then you know where you can push for.

SPEAKER_00 30:14

Yeah, 100%. Like I remember from our first year or fourth year, like I was shy to talk to people like that I wanted to cook for. I think I hit 2026. I was sitting in the car with my dad, and I turned around and I was like, Anton Kakachi or Carl Frampton. And he's it I don't have context of things I say, my brain thinks it's when to speak it. And he was like, What are you on about? And it's like which one of them's bigger? And I was like, Well, they're both as big as each other, but Car Carl would be like the longer longer time goat. Uh and I was like, I'm gonna kick for both of them then. And he's like, How you gonna do that? And I was like, Don't know yet, figure it out.

SPEAKER_02 30:52

Oh, percent.

SPEAKER_00 30:53

And like everyone's like, Oh, I know Carl. I was like, No, you don't, because you start giving me the information.

SPEAKER_02 30:57

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 30:58

And everyone's like, just contact them on like Instagram. It was the same with Kakachi, and everyone's like, just contact them on Instagram. 90% of the time they're not gonna respond.

SPEAKER_01 31:06

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 31:06

And that's something you need to understand as well.

SPEAKER_01 31:08

I know I got a table podcast, I like Mazzi's people for the podcast. A lot of people just haven't opened it up or even haven't. It's probably in their requests with a hundred thousand others.

SPEAKER_00 31:18

Yep.

SPEAKER_01 31:18

It doesn't matter, just if you don't maybe one day they'll see it, you know what I mean.

SPEAKER_00 31:22

Or maybe one day they'll come to you and you're like, about time.

SPEAKER_01 31:25

No, 100%, no, absolutely. It's just opening doors, you know what I mean? Like the West is a lot of it's marketing, like you reached out to me. I could be a door, Carl. Do you know what I mean? Like I like you you can come up and cook for me and and who knows, it made open the door to Carl and Car or Patty, because Patty Barnes very close to me. Carl was on my podcast, great lad, very close to my brother. So it made open the door, it made open the door, we were like, fuck you know what?

SPEAKER_00 31:49

We need mine car because you're down the street from me. I live in Lisbon. There you go, yeah. You know what I mean? Like, I remember one like a funny story we can actually give you. And I've said this one before, but it it's one I want I need to say, 'cause it's funny, and it's the first ever watches it's fucking uh how we ended up like wanting to go for those bigger people was th kind of through my partner, is that she's very much into the roads, like road racing and stuff. Yeah. And she grew up in Balamani, so it makes sense. Yeah. And I remember I didn't do roads with them, like marshalling them, and we found out there was a a racer from England that was texting her. And I mean texting her. And I remember she told me, like, me and her black and white with each other. Like, no like people that are young, they couldn't handle a real relationship, let's be honest. No first fight, the breakup. Me and her have been together two seconds in, regardless. And I remember seeing this and she was fr like, I don't want you to be annoyed, and I was like, sweet, I'll go to the race and kick his head in. Because I'm I'm a I'm a po glass boy, that's how we deal with things. We don't talk about emotions, we just do stuff. And I remember meeting him, and he turned around and went, No one with money or any type of status would ever give you a fucking opportunity. And I was like, Alright, we'll see about that. And the first one we got was Glenn. And I remember talking the biggest game before meeting him. It's like, I just walk up to him, tell him how it is. Didn't go that way. Yeah. He literally walked past me, and I'm sitting there like fuck him.

unknown 33:17

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 33:17

And this is where my partner's great. Like the two things have taught me.

SPEAKER_02 33:22

What the fuck was it?

SPEAKER_00 33:26

Hopefully not, and that will break. That's that fucking ghost again. A put at least. One thing it's taught me was from Glenn's and from my partner is that know anyone, any man that is like strong within themselves, they usually have a stronger woman behind them, actually keeping his shit together. Yeah. Like we think we're doing a great job. It's because they're doing all the hard work behind us. Well they'll never say it to their face. Because like he was a great example, his his partner's fantastic, and I know my partner is my backbone because she will align me into where I need to be. No, if I've lost like the head, she's the only person that can bring me down. Yeah. And also if I'm not like like I remember trying to talk to Flynn in five minutes, and she literally gripped me and went, you stop being a fruit and go talk to him. And I was like, Fair enough. Ended up cooking for him a year later. We did his housewarming and stuff. And that those are the times where like the person that you're with is a person that's actually gonna make you successful.

SPEAKER_02 34:22

100%.

SPEAKER_00 34:23

And like we've been doing this, and I remember when we started it, we pumped money into this. I didn't know if this was gonna work. I still don't know if it'll work, but I'd rather not be 85 and be like, should I try it?

SPEAKER_02 34:36

Should have done it.

SPEAKER_00 34:36

And everyone you find when they want to do something, they always have the same mentality of like, what if it doesn't work? What if it does work?

SPEAKER_01 34:44

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 34:44

You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_01 34:45

Like you'll never know if it doesn't work until you try it.

SPEAKER_00 34:47

Did you have the mentality when you're eight to be like, Oh, I I don't know if I want to be a boxer. No, you didn't. You're just like, I'm gonna be good at this.

SPEAKER_01 34:55

No, it said it doesn't have to work, it's just like if it didn't work, I didn't care. Because I enjoyed it. And then you realize you're actually. Didn't work out, maybe it didn't be what I want it to be, so fuck.

SPEAKER_00 35:09

Exactly.

SPEAKER_01 35:09

You know what I mean?

How The Booking Process Works

SPEAKER_00 35:10

When people are like, Oh, I'm I'm scared, it's like of what you haven't started yet. I know. Be afraid when you start out, then you're dead. That's it. That's when you're scared. You're fucked. But like the the people we've done stuff for What does what does what does it entail?

SPEAKER_01 35:26

Let's talk about what like what does a night entail with you and the and in the long term and the short term telling of it. So like no, like what does what does a party entail, right? So let's say I book you tomorrow, you're doing my house next weekend. What's it look like? What's the night what does it look like? I how do you do the dish? How do you decide what days you're gonna do? What does the night look like in the Macomb household?

SPEAKER_00 35:52

What we will do first, so the whole booking process is that I'm contacted, they'll give me the amount of people that they're gonna have there, and we'll go through the amount of courses we're doing. And then who's ever booked me usually, I'll ask them for preferences of like one, is there allergies? Am I gonna kill someone if I give them it? What they like, what they don't like, if there's something specific they want to put be put in. The same with the alcohol, like if people don't like whiskey or gin or something, we'll try and avoid it, and there's ones that will go more to the preferable. I'll build the like the the food style menu, look at what I've built, and then build the cocktails to compare them. Yeah. And then if I send it to you and you don't like it, we go back and forth till it's fixed. Yeah. Until it's perfect, because the way I look at it is that I don't want to give something to someone and then be 95% happy with it. I want them to be like, I want this nah.

SPEAKER_01 36:45

Nailed on.

SPEAKER_00 36:45

And as soon as that's sorted, then we go to their home and cook for them in their house.

SPEAKER_01 36:49

Do you cook in the house?

SPEAKER_00 36:50

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 36:50

Oh, that's class.

SPEAKER_00 36:51

See everyone's like, oh, is it like prep meals? And I'm like, if I don't want to start a prep meal company, everyone's sitting around having a drink.

SPEAKER_01 36:58

Oh yeah. Still out and about music pen, and you you're in the kitchen fucking frying fucking status. Which you get the I want a frat. Someone burkeeper a fry.

SPEAKER_00 37:10

This is the funny.

SPEAKER_01 37:11

Like we have to get it, like let's say like I'm gonna throw out a few ideas. Not ideas, but this is like what I'm thinking of. Like people here get married. The morning of a wedding if you have a big gaff, like if you have a big house and braids getting there's braids made and there's bridal party and or groomsmen and a and a and a you know, and uh because people are waiting around and having cocktails not cocktails, we're having like wee fucking maybe a couple wee drinks before the mass to do it.

SPEAKER_00 37:36

I was gonna say, like, if they're getting the cocktails I'm making, they're not making it to the the wedding, like and you're downstairs cooking.

SPEAKER_01 37:42

That would be like a gooey Ireland's just a bit behind, I I think.

SPEAKER_03 37:46

Yep.

SPEAKER_01 37:47

It's just a wee bit behind if it was like another country, America, England, where you have big fucking houses, a lot of money, footballers, stuff like that.

SPEAKER_00 37:57

We do have that, but just hidden. Yeah. Like we have cooked for some people that are minted out of their hole. And like, you know the moments you look at yourself like you're a peasant, like those kind of rich people. But the best people I cook for are Westies. Yeah. Like we there's a group of them, we've had them like six times now, and they're the funniest people I ever cooked for. Yeah. One of them in particular was it was his birthday, and we were like course three going into four, and this they stuck pit bull on, and for ten minutes. This lad bapped the fucking he was dancing for ten solid minutes. I don't think he breathed. And I'm like, can you please sit down so I can feed you? He went, sorry, mate, no worries. And just sat down, like no, like a teacher telling you off, and I'm like, I'm never gonna forget this. But those are the moments people don't talk about. People only think I'm gonna go in and f cook for you. I physically can't do that. I'm a Westy boy, I need to speak or I'll upload.

SPEAKER_01 38:53

But there is some that you'll get that are very involved or we cocktail, never have a wee cocktail too. Have you like someone else drives?

SPEAKER_00 39:00

No, the amount of people that pass me afterwards.

SPEAKER_01 39:02

Like join the party, have a drink while you're cooking, get involved.

SPEAKER_00 39:05

The ones in Monaghan wanted me to stay over.

SPEAKER_01 39:07

I had to stay over, like, had them on a supper fret.

SPEAKER_00 39:10

Don't get me wrong, no, if I didn't have work the next day, not a problem. Because I remember we we left at half twelve, their house. I got the bartender home at half two, and I got home at half three. Fuck that. I had to be in work at half six.

SPEAKER_02 39:21

Oh, I see you later.

SPEAKER_00 39:22

I literally walked into my house.

SPEAKER_01 39:24

Had it seemed to fingers up, man, later.

What Makes A Night Memorable

SPEAKER_00 39:26

Took the shirt off, looked at my phone and went, There's no point me getting into it. And I went into work with no sleep. And like if there was anyone that day went in they got offended by me being pissed off, shit one. They didn't understand. But like that is the way it is supposed to be. Like when people I want people to have an experience.

SPEAKER_01 39:45

Yeah, what's the wireless part of you've been like you've done? Like, has there been one where you've gone, fuck me, this is uh I'm in the death here. Have you ever been in that position where you've gone, whoa?

SPEAKER_00 39:55

Honestly, no. Because again, it always goes back that we're westies, we're kind of used to madness. There's been some of them you're like the they they would never do it in the daylight kind of a like we've had so many, like up this Nagelwoods, there's a questionable amount of people making Springer jokes that go to the same church. Yeah. I'm just like, one or two times make this joke, no one that's a sixth or seven, and like right users are just going to church for something else.

SPEAKER_01 40:21

It's a secret invent.

SPEAKER_00 40:22

I feel like it's a church out there that doesn't have the crucifix up on it, it doesn't have a pineapple.

SPEAKER_01 40:27

Pineapple upside down, is that what it is? Is the pineapple upside down?

SPEAKER_00 40:30

So if you're looking around the churches in in Valley Clare, if there's a pineapple somewhere, you know what church they go to. That's like know the human like the human side of it, that's the best bit about it. Like me cooking, yes, that's me. But you want people to walk away with an experience. You want people to have enjoyed themselves so much they forgot that they have a stranger in their house. Yeah. And everyone's like, Oh, but what what if my house isn't clean? I don't care if your house isn't clean. Don't get me wrong, if it's a bomb site and I can't use your cooker or stuff.

SPEAKER_01 41:00

If someone invites if someone hosts a party in their house of bombs sit, leave.

SPEAKER_00 41:06

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 41:07

You should leave. That's a rare, that's a ref. I would walk in and go, What the fuck is this? You actually are holding a party here, I'm gone.

SPEAKER_00 41:15

It's like I don't even see your dad dog in the car.

SPEAKER_01 41:17

You should have that in terms and conditions. Do not go in here with fucking tices everywhere. House of bombs sit. Like, do not do it. You should have that written in not even in small print, large print. Do not invite me to your house to walk into a fuck because I have friends who work in gas and they're working, they're plumbers and they're called out, working they're working for like say the like they're contracted with like city not city council, sorry, the housing executive who's go to some houses like and they're just they send me videos and I'm like get the fuck. I'm like, there's cats everywhere. I'm like, get me out there. See if I was in that job. I don't know, I couldn't do it. I just got fixing anything. And there's clothes everywhere, they're rubbish, and I'm just like that people and people if you go to these houses tax and go, mate, that's in fucking such and such. Like, it's close by. And I'm like Like, how is that possible? That's your neighborhood. Someone yeah, people live like it. Like within our vicinity. I can't get my head on.

SPEAKER_00 42:23

There's also the thing that you find out, knowing you're doing private work, there's a lot of rich people live near you. Like I live in Lagmore and there's a house who are clients of ours. And it's one of those houses I've lived in Lagmore since I was like 16. Yeah. And this house has always been on the hill, and I'm like, who lives there? I know who lives there now. I cooked for them a couple months ago. And I'm like, you get to see the other side the people. Yeah. And like money isn't always everything for this. Yes, it is the business, but when you leave an impression, you'll always make more money 'cause people want you back.

SPEAKER_01 42:54

Yeah, it's and it's like it's like it builds a bond and a relationship with people too that's recommended the others and we have a a couple in Moira that have came back a couple of times and I've literally watched their child grow up at this point.

SPEAKER_00 43:05

Yeah. Because it's been four years they've had me back for every year. Yeah. And like I remember she was pregnant at the time for the first time, so we did like mock tools, and now the child's three. And I'm like, it's mad that you can be in someone's life as like a private work.

SPEAKER_03 43:20

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 43:21

And I was like, this is different to restaurants, because you know you go to a restaurant, you sit down, and there's like those underland rules is like don't make noise, don't do this, don't do that. No, if I'm in your house and I'm cooking for you, I do not care what you do. You tell me what drugs you sold to people, it's walking away from me.

SPEAKER_01 43:38

Yeah, it's in one ear and it's the other area. Like that's a good thing.

SPEAKER_00 43:40

It's very westy style of I heard nothing. I'm saying that it's people want to be people. You can't do that in a restaurant, regardless. Like, I'm sure you have some age, you go to restaurants and you're just like, I can't bring you here, you'll get us kicked out.

SPEAKER_01 43:55

But like fucking most bars and I can't do that.

SPEAKER_00 43:58

When people do that with me. I'm just like I don't care how loud you are, I don't care what you're talking about.

SPEAKER_01 44:03

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 44:03

No, if I'm involved in a conversation even better, it's a good crack. Yeah. Because like the cracks that the the other side of it that I think is good.

SPEAKER_01 44:10

It's better if you're if you're involved. Like you don't want like you say, you don't want to just have like I love the idea of it 'cause like I'd be like trying to get involved, like we'll have a drink, or do you want something here like I've trying to encourage you to have a drink or something?

SPEAKER_00 44:25

90% of them will like as soon as I've walked in the door, they have a bear open. Yeah. And I'm like, one's one. I'll be alright. Yeah. And like some of them have had it will finish up. I've packed everything up and they're like, We're not paying you, then you sit down with us. And I'm like, well, kinda hell ransom with this for like once I go to the j the same gym as them. We cook for them one time and I worked in a centre at the time on the deli. And how mental you need the sound and how delusional you need the sound, they go, I'm a private chef serving fucking chicken baps. Yeah. And they're like, aye, whatever. And I give them a card and they looked it up and they went, Oh wait, how long? He's not talking shit. Like I physically can't lie. Yeah. Because it's just my bringing up. If I lie to you, it's easy to tell. And I remember they end up booking in and they're like, Why are you working on the deadlife? You can make this like because business needs to grow first. I don't have this big millionaire bagger on me.

SPEAKER_01 45:19

No, it has to be it has to be marketed right as well. Like there's a lot of marketing to go into stuff like that. I think I think if like it's the first time I've heard of it here in this in this place, like and uh I think it's like I think it's a class idea. And I think we are one of the things. I think we need we need something like that. Like for the mount like my my wife's a singer and the amount of garden parties she gets like in the summer, she gets booked for wedding parties, communion parties, fucking Christians, but there's loads and loads of parties, loads of people who book her religiously for every event, and they're all garden parties and big houses. And then when you were saying that, I'm like, imagine a day where people booked her over. She's singing flat out in the sun out in a big garden, and you're in cooking and serving people. That I that's what I'm imagining in my head. So I'm thinking of the full picture of like a proper big garden party with a big fucking class.

SPEAKER_00 46:11

A Dutch sound class.

SPEAKER_01 46:12

You know what I mean? So like people have big house, big space, that's the way to do it. The host it be the host. See what like see if I had a big massive house, you want everyone on it as often as you can. You know what I mean? Like be the host. That's so anyone with a big gaff who knows me, you invite me to your gaff.

SPEAKER_00 46:30

I don't have a big house, I don't care. You have a kitchen, and like if you have a an oven and a fridge, that's all I need. I'll make the space work. Like our first one, my mate, it was in like student accommodation, and it's as small that like as small as this room. Yeah. And where me and you're sitting was like the kitchen, and I'm like, I can make this work. You just have to learn to adapt. But there's some houses you go into and you're like, I'm poor as fuck. Like, knowing to have wine fridges, yeah. You know they're minted.

SPEAKER_01 46:57

I've got a few quid and the bottles of wine are fucking more than your rent.

SPEAKER_00 47:00

I'm just like I was like, I could take this as payment.

SPEAKER_01 47:02

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 47:03

Sweet.

SPEAKER_01 47:03

See the adverse see the the videos of like people like people do like a Michael Jackson present, for example, they hire them out for a party and then they show up. Like the Michael Jackson person shows up. Have you seen this? And he's like, hey, and he goes, Hey, sorry, dude, come on. And he's like, Oh, I know I've booked you for the party, but everyone's let me down, so it's just me tonight. And the guy's like, What? He's like, Will you still perform? And he's like, Yeah, as long as you pay me. He's like, Okay, so he just sets by himself recording it. That's the British kitchen. So I know it's thinking of you coming in. Like, picking a body at hand, and then you showed up and be like, look, what's meaning it's like on my own in weather's down kicking like focus.

SPEAKER_00 47:57

That's why we I'm a limit of two people because I think it'd be real awkward. Like, I feel like it'd be very like chance on a mascara.

SPEAKER_01 48:03

Starlight, you know.

SPEAKER_00 48:04

Uh like so uh next weather, we'll have awkward, like imagine just sitting there kicking away.

SPEAKER_01 48:13

We need we even wrong.

SPEAKER_00 48:20

Let's still get creeping closer and closer to the point turn around. Like, can you leave me alone?

SPEAKER_01 48:26

Whoa. Where do you come from?

SPEAKER_00 48:27

Yeah, like that's a nice clone you've got on there. And I'm like, alright, I'm out.

SPEAKER_01 48:31

Yeah, I've you ever have any red flags they got like people reaching out to you? Never?

SPEAKER_00 48:40

Nah. Like I think it's mostly like we've had places where like Madage is like that's an orange hole, and I'm like, it has money in it though. Yeah. Like I don't care about all that shit anymore because all I'm caring about is everyone does it.

SPEAKER_01 48:54

Don't think anyone really does.

SPEAKER_00 48:56

It's too old-fashioned though.

SPEAKER_01 48:57

And I think like like you say, your dad and people like that older who probably suffer from this certain different areas and oh probably be a wee bit still stuck in that way.

SPEAKER_00 49:07

Where I'm just looking at it is they want to give me money for my for me to cook them.

SPEAKER_01 49:11

Yeah, it's a service. People want to pay for service, go and do it. It doesn't matter.

SPEAKER_00 49:14

The only thing I'm worried about is if it's an hour away, you're paying extra. Yeah. Because it feels expensive right now.

SPEAKER_01 49:22

And fuck what's happening about that.

SPEAKER_00 49:24

I even thought about that today. I was like, is there a protest on here today? I left work early because I thought I was gonna be late today.

SPEAKER_01 49:30

There was no it actually done is more fucking good than bad because there was no traffic at all yesterday. None whatsoever. The roads were empty, absolutely empty.

SPEAKER_00 49:40

Because they're expecting it.

SPEAKER_01 49:41

Yeah. Everyone's too.

SPEAKER_00 49:42

I didn't see one tractor inside.

SPEAKER_01 49:44

I know. Was there was it up here? Was it yesterday? Sandy knows. Nah, but uh what is it, four hours was the what's that when it's like I put this up my TikTok and I got attacked by loads and loads of people. I was rage baiting. I worked a trade, I was just out of fashion all just hooking people everything. But I still stand by what I say. What is I don't mean it in a way now to do it. I do want people to pro I do want the government to drop a tax as fuel. Obviously, who doesn't? And they're in their country's fucked at the minute anyway. But what is four hours of protesting it's nothing those roundabout wanna achieve is the fuel down today? Is it down? Is it's the price, it's the same price. It's the exact same price. What the fuck do they achieve? We don't even have a centre here anyway, it's dormant. It's Westminster who makes the fucking final decision. So what is it like the amount of people here attacking me, attacking me, giving me S ballik, saying you're uh oh what why what are you doing about it? I'm saying absolutely fuck all because I know nothing's gonna work, plus protesting for four hours, 2 pm to 6 pm on a Tuesday afternoon isn't that gonna work. That's not gonna go oh fuck, we've lost out millions here, let's drop it. Surely if you boycott garriages for a month and everyone decides not to drive, not to go to work, workplaces can't sack everyone, right? So just don't go to work. Something like that. The the country has to come together. I sound like fucking the Carnegie or something there trying to stand for present. Fucking present will come. But uh something like that. That's what makes a difference.

SPEAKER_00 51:26

No problem is you'll get that one that'll go to work. You just get the one down, it's alright.

SPEAKER_01 51:31

I don't want to be browns, br notes, br noose, protest it's not.

SPEAKER_00 51:36

We've also just found out what you actually do in missile fitness. Just on a song rage bitten, baby. Coach, I'm under a bar here, it's like I'll get the shoot.

SPEAKER_01 51:45

Nah, here you have to tell me there has to be more of a standstill than fucking four hours on the motorway. It doesn't even make sense.

SPEAKER_00 51:51

Also, I was originally gonna go down the missile, right? Because there was I get these days where I'm like, I'm gonna just contact people, but I prefer to talk to people in person. Yeah. Because texting people don't do anything.

SPEAKER_01 52:02

That's right. Whenever you were messaging me about the round, I was like, fuck, that's a great idea. And then I I said to her, but obviously she she's pregnant now, so I was like, she's not gonna get the full experience of this, and I wouldn't.

SPEAKER_00 52:13

You need to change your uh Google thing for missile, by the way.

SPEAKER_01 52:16

It's an uncanny way, I know. I need to change it.

SPEAKER_00 52:18

Nah, it's in the industrial estate of Butcher Road. Is it? Aye because I drove around it enough.

SPEAKER_01 52:23

Oh fuck right now.

SPEAKER_00 52:24

And I'm sorry, I'm looking around here like that's that's a plant.

SPEAKER_01 52:28

No, that's wrong, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 52:30

Is there like a wee side door? I literally walked around this place and I'm like, there's no side door here.

SPEAKER_02 52:33

Need to fix it.

SPEAKER_00 52:34

And I went back, I think it was in as with Connor the next day, and he was like, Are you stupid? And I was like, Come from you, that's rich. And he was like, they're down in where the the black taxi taboo is, and I'm like, No, it's not, because that doesn't sound missile out of it.

SPEAKER_01 52:48

No, because we need to with the we need to wait on uh confirmation from a landlord that he has to approve our sense, which is fucking stupid, but we're just gonna go ahead with it because he hasn't replied as anything.

SPEAKER_00 52:59

But is the the gym that was written either still in there? No, or is that just missile?

SPEAKER_01 53:04

It's ECA, it's education. Marty still does the ECA, he he coaches the PTs like so they're still technically in there? He he does our he co he does full-time classes out there, like educating people. Um but we we're at the gyms, gym nickers. Gym's the gym. That's it. Like the gym first, then each other.

SPEAKER_00 53:23

One of the first ones we contacted, and you might know him was um is it Ran McCoy?

SPEAKER_01 53:27

No, Ram McCoy.

SPEAKER_00 53:30

And everyone's like, You're mental to come back.

SPEAKER_01 53:31

He's on the podcast, good lad.

SPEAKER_00 53:33

I was like, what do you mean? I'm mental. He's just another dude.

SPEAKER_01 53:36

He's from Portlands as well, isn't he?

SPEAKER_00 53:38

Like you can tell.

SPEAKER_01 53:39

Yeah. No, he's uh he's a good lad, Ran Burnham fella.

SPEAKER_00 53:42

But this is the thing, people are always like when I tell people the people I contact, they're either they don't believe me, I'm gonna get them. Yeah. Or they're like, oh, you shouldn't do that. I was like, why shouldn't I? Everyone eats food. Like people are like, oh, who's your top people? One of them's Jonathan Ray. No, if you're booking things for people, I found you can't tag the wife, you don't contact the person.

SPEAKER_01 54:02

His wife is packed me.

SPEAKER_00 54:03

Because they'll get back to you immediately. Yeah. I remember trying to get the deposit off him for four weeks, and I'm like, I can't start your menu unless I have a deposit in my bank, because you can cancel on me, then I have a waste of food. It's just the way it is. Like we ask deposits of that, and people are like, Why do you ask deposits?

SPEAKER_01 54:18

Like, because we've had people fucking secure the day beforehand, just cancel.

SPEAKER_00 54:22

And I'm like, I'm nigh 200 quid out. And it made sense back then because I didn't get deposits back in the start.

SPEAKER_01 54:28

Yeah, no, you have to fucking you have to take a deposit. Like it's got common sense reading. If you want to book certain restaurants, like you have to book like a cure restaurant, you have to pair of pants because it's it's high demand, so they're gonna be able to do that.

SPEAKER_00 54:38

There's also that table. One great thing with my partner is that she's like a mini PA. Yeah. I remember she was going to Donington Park over in England out, and this is when Johnny was still racing as a racer, and I remember she literally landed in London and I phoned her and went, I know you've got my cards on me. Like I I've got business cards on me all the time, and I snuck them into her bag before she left, 'cause I seen her before she left. And I went, I don't care what I have to pay for, don't care what I need to do. You get my contacts to Johnny Ray and I'll buy you whatever you want. Don't care the price. It took her 40 minutes. When she got to Donington Park, somehow she got into the the Kawasaki's like hospitality, which you need to pay into. Yeah. She just went around the back, slipped in, seen his wife, handed her the cards. And she phoned me and went, You're gonna need a tax there, because so she knows who you are. Yeah. And I've chatted with her his wife back and forth now for like a year. But with those kind of people you need to understand is it's not that they don't want to book him yet. Schedule. They're scheduling this hectic. Like everyone's like, Oh, you sure he's just not wanting to? And I'm like, mate, the m the man's never in the country.

SPEAKER_02 55:45

I know, I know, it's hard to schedule.

SPEAKER_00 55:46

I see Johnny's post go up now again, he's like, he was originally here, then he's in Australia, then he's in Spain, then he's in Athens, and I'm like, you know what, Fern, he'll get back to me.

SPEAKER_01 56:03

I was gonna meet, well, I'll just wait till your birthday. Was it nose? And I'm like, well, we'll see you now. And then remind me, Jim wonder what could we do? Shooting where the gym with the coaches in the gym.

SPEAKER_00 56:13

You wouldn't be the first gym. I know. Because we did one for lifestyle, and we were gonna do one for Ran. Yeah. I don't think Ran understood what I meant because he was gonna do it for the team. Yeah. Because he was wanting to do it for the whole like.

SPEAKER_02 56:26

Yeah, the whole gym, that's fucking that's extortion.

SPEAKER_00 56:28

That's fucking It would be ins i I would need a full squad with me. Where like I don't want to change away from the What's the limit? Twenty.

SPEAKER_01 56:37

Twenty's the limit. And so two between two and twenty and that one. Two to twenty person.

SPEAKER_00 56:43

Oh I think if I told my partner as cooking for one person, they'd get skeptical are you paying extra?

SPEAKER_01 56:51

No, 100%.

SPEAKER_00 56:52

I'd definitely be paying extra, like it'd be doubled if it's just one person.

SPEAKER_01 56:56

Twice the work, just because there's one person.

SPEAKER_00 56:58

And it's just more of a the awkward feeling.

SPEAKER_01 57:01

It's twice the work having the like having to entertain someone, one person, fuck me, I couldn't do that.

SPEAKER_00 57:07

You know, seeing the dynamic between like partners of people, it's hilarious. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 57:12

Like Do you have any anyone like if you're a cue for two people there's been an argument?

SPEAKER_00 57:17

In a like a serious manner, like going split?

SPEAKER_01 57:21

Like arguing, just like just the way you were like hated argument. Oh I all the time. Fuck.

SPEAKER_00 57:27

Like one of the mentioned they had an argument during the middle of the hours, and I was I remember it, it was something happened, and then he was like, Oh, you just relax and she at and shit him. Like five I remember there was like a deaf and silence for like a split second. I went, so he's ready for the next course or well.

SPEAKER_01 57:50

That's you need how we've got a personality, so you'd be like, Fuck shit, sadly, chill out, dude. I know you've had a song, but like no more cocktails for you, that's enough.

SPEAKER_00 57:59

This is the thing, I've never had someone leave not blocked. Yeah. Like we we cooked for Tommy and Tyrone recently. And I think it was we did three cocktails for them, and like I like strong, strong cocktails, and we made one for them. And it was like a I always like to tie stuff in the stuff. Like the blan the one for the last of it was to tie in him, Tommy, Tyrone, and Anto used to smoke cigars. Yeah. I think it was before one of their championship fights or something. Yeah. Or no when they were younger.

SPEAKER_01 58:27

Tyrone's done at his wedding. We all smoked cigars at Tyrone's wedding at the afternoon as well.

SPEAKER_00 58:34

I remember the set about a story with Anto, I think it was before one of like the the boxing things, they smoked cigars before I went in. So we made a drink for them. And I remember t I taste everything before it goes out. Like if it's a drink, I'll use a straw and taste it. I remember taking a sip of this thing and went, Jesus fucking crack. It was good, like I drink it, but I'm like, drink one of these, you're you're plastered. They're too deep in this point. And I remember by the end of it, it's they'd finished recording and like they couldn't visibly hold the con for station because they're not.

SPEAKER_01 59:08

Someone doesn't drink.

SPEAKER_00 59:14

I remember like they're do you know when you know someone's drunk, they're like, I'm alright. Like, no, you're not. But they're like, I'm alright, I'm alright. And they're like, I'm shinned. And then they went down to the burnocle afterwards. They probably had some down there.

SPEAKER_01 59:26

That's where they did.

SPEAKER_00 59:27

I should have gone down with them because the lads that were sponsoring that were the ones that did a lot of my marketing, which is the dig uh Illuminate Digital. Oh wow. But they were mostly worked, they worth a punt for a lot of their sponsoring stuff. Like them lad lads are legends. Yeah. Because I remember when we cook for them, the the owner, Christian, we were like, I think it was like three courses into the seven, and he turned he like pulled me aside and went, We need to speak, and I was like, Ah shit, what have I done? Like, no, you're immediately thinking of chin something, and one of the guys on their team, Reese, he's uh celiac, and I'm like, Is he dad or he walked away from the table at that point and I'm like, Is he dad in the background? What's he gonna tell me? And he's like, Back when it comes to January next year, I need you to come speak to me. I want to help grow your business.

SPEAKER_03 1:00:10

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:11

And I was like, oh good. This is where you find out when people can be nice, you're you're very hesitant. I even said to me myself, I'm like, what are you on about? And that's where you find there is some people out there that are willing to help you. It's just harder to date than have someone that's just like, oh yeah, mate, I help you, and then block you. Yeah. When people actually go through with it, you're like, What do I do in return? Because you're expecting to return some of them.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:39

People don't want numb for free, like, do they like they always want something in return?

SPEAKER_00 1:00:42

Like, I'm pretty sure you've had it in your career too. People are like, Oh, I'll help you, and then they're probably back stuck too.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:48

People always offer help, which is nice, and then there's people who offer help but don't even know like how they can help you, like or like I'm like, that doesn't benefit me. Like, I'm not being a dickhead, but like that that's not like I can't waste my hand doing it. Because it's just not even and I appreciate it. But that's quite like I was one guy who messaged me about this. He says it speaks to your fans. I think I have fans. He's like, mate, you do have fans like it's you all hassle. I mean, it's not a hassle talking to anybody through social media. Like, I mean, if people want to see me, then come into my gym and speak to me in my gym every day. If they want me, they want me to send a glove, come to the gym, they'll send it for you. It's all sell your tickets and all for you. So, like it's can and I was like, mate, I really appreciate you doing here, but I I have a like I personally have a personal connection with uh people you're calling fans. I like I know these people, a lot of them. And he's like, But you feel like I mean people there's a wider audience that you that don't have access to, like maybe in England or anything.

SPEAKER_00 1:01:56

Yeah, they don't got access, I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 1:01:58

I still talk to them. If like if like it's not like I'm impossible to get a hold of. I appreciate that your mom is probably trying to do something that's gonna like he thought it might have benefited me. But I had like I have like I'm not impossible to get to touch like get in touch with, do you know what I mean? It's not that hard. Like I like everyone knows where I am. If people message me on Instagram, nine times out of ten, I'll say it masses and back.

SPEAKER_00 1:02:24

It's no big deal, like the pro the only time you probably not answer if it's like half eight at night and you're chin from work, you're like, nah, tomorrow's the problem.

SPEAKER_01 1:02:34

Yeah, 100%.

SPEAKER_00 1:02:34

Because that that's the thing I've realized too, is like people aren't impossible. Yeah. Just people are more afraid of how they think of t to talk to someone. Yeah. Like everyone's like, when it came to Glenn, just speak to him. He's a person. Same with you. I sent you a message. You've never met me.

SPEAKER_02 1:02:50

I know, chanced.

SPEAKER_00 1:02:52

I I ended up getting to talk to Tommy and Tyrone as my man threatened Tommy. So do you know the we the we shopped off Lanaton, the we premiered?

SPEAKER_01 1:03:01

Oh yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:03:02

So my my man used to work in there and Tommy came in and my my son watches your podcast all the time, and he believes that I've never met you before. So they took a selfie together, and he was like, he he does he has his own business, you should contact him and be interesting for the podcast, and he's like, Oh sweet, sweet. So he contacted me and then we had originally planned it the first time, and they had they did have to reschedule. Like I always joke about it, oh they didn't want to reschedule it. I was in the middle of it, the Isle of Man going, That's sweet, that's sweet. We'll get something down the line. But again, when schedules mouse sometimes it'll be ages away. Yeah. And I remember he came back, my ma was working, and she ate and shit him. She's like, Why are you wasting my son's time? And I've said the work going, nope she didn't. No, she didn't. Yeah. Because West EMAs are West EMAs. Like, they're probably the most fearsome things in this country. 100%. Like, no, like anything happens to their child, they will uproar and start wars. Yeah. And I was like, I don't know if you've made him want to get it done now or not. Because I I'm pretty sure he's just terrified you going to his house and doing his knees.

SPEAKER_01 1:04:06

So he's gonna like probably restart again right away. I was like, let's go.

Branding, Details And How To Book

SPEAKER_00 1:04:10

Nah, I didn't. I came to this January because I told him I was like, right, I'll contact you in the new year, we'll get something sorted. Because for the last few months of last year, it was either something died or was doing something, so I didn't have the time. And I was like, I'll come back to January. He came to January and went, right, is this happening or not? Yeah. And he was like, This is the date, and it's like sure now. It's like is is is Taroon gonna have a fight or not or not? Or like and it was I think it was Kakechi just had a fight, so I knew there was no point asking to get him on. Yeah. I was like, we're gonna do Tommy and Tyrung, it's gonna be easier, then they're gonna be there, it's their thing. And it was one of the best ones we did. Great crack and like even the food, because I remember if I know someone has like an orientation like Tommy's Jamaican, yeah. It's like I want to bring their food into it. 100%. And we did, and I remember Taroon's like, You're gonna you're gonna try and make Jamaican food for Jamaican. I'm like, why why not? It's like if I can do it as good as they can do it, that makes me more profitable. 100%. And like that's the small touches you want to add to these things, but the small touches don't exist in restaurants. Like in many restaurants you went into and went, here that's my birthday on the plate. Oh, 100%. Like we've done like I love to get ice molds for drinks. Yeah. Especially for anniversaries, they stick the anniversary in them. Like ice molds are expensive. They're like 20, 30 quid for like the the disc. Yeah. And I'm like, this people are gonna remember this. It also makes them want to come back and freaking break. Yeah. And like we did theirs and we got the whiskey and white lo logo on ours. Yeah. And like there were like two kids. That hasn't came out yet, but you'll probably see it if you watch their podcast. They were like two kids when they seen that, 'cause like that's class. 'Cause it's people forget how small details mean to people. Yeah. Like I had like the smallest details on every menu's everyone's names. or specifically on everyone else's menu, like yours will have your own name on it, your partners will have theirs on it. And they're like, Oh but so much effort and like if you think this is effort then you you're not gonna work with me. Yeah. Like I don't care about the extra effort I need to put into this because people are getting me. Yeah. This is my reputation and if my reputation's too much effort for you, you won't work in this business for me. And like it you can see the difference like there's I think there's like three or four people do what I do. None of them do cocktails and only one does cocktails. But the rest are very like it's high end food but I don't know how they work their systems. And we worked with um Love Belfast and like a load of the influencers and they tried the other ones and they went I'm not gonna say that you're better than them like but I'm not gonna put it out there and I'm like good enough for me. Which I ended up working with Emmons because I work in a coffee shop. And it's having just a brass neck to be like that's my business card. Yeah absolutely fucking and that's where you find out people don't like it. Knowing you have confidence in yourself to be like a I'll cook for you and they're like no you just won't you're like yeah well yeah because people so people fear it for someone who let's say like obviously you're not gonna reach out to everybody but let's say someone watch this and they want to reach out to you already if any like what what did what's their what they just match you on Instagram or Instagram we have a a website now so Tenshi means uh Angel in Japanese which we originally got the name because my partner's middle name is Angel and this has stuck with me since I was 16. It was always something I wanted as a restaurant's name was Angel and I was like why and I'm like that's why I have some big savvy bitch. There you go. And I was like I'll do but it's a expansion and scrum messy book in because the website will send you to my WhatsApp anyway I need to be in contact with clients and they're broken into the four because you had to you just had to make the menu. Yeah. Which everyone's like why don't you just automate it I was like who's building the menu then the AI system yeah great they're gonna send it to me because I don't know what I'm making then. Yeah and I'm like what do you mean it's like I need to physically know what I want.

SPEAKER_01 1:08:04

What do you like? What what do you like? What sort of style of food do you like all that crayon and you get to see what people really like. And it has to be between two and twenty people. Oh house party cooking in the in the in the kitchen makes your kitchen skin and just know you're not walking away sober.

SPEAKER_00 1:08:19

There you go the cocktails will be I'm supposedly heavy handed with my drink pour so Nam wrong red. Now I'm wrong red it's smoking like a true STL for sure that's more profit for me.

SPEAKER_01 1:08:30

If anyone wants to book 'em get on to his Instagram, Tinchi, message him, get yourself booked in, we garden party or something, let the man do the work, you do the drinking, get the change on, enjoy the night. A hundred percent. Appreciate you coming in, thank you very much, Buzz.