Cornwall


<p>Former Stein’s head chef, Ross Geach is the owner and head grower at <a href="https://www.padstowkitchengarden.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Padstow Kitchen Garden</a>, supplying produce to top restaurants in Cornwall and beyond.</p>



<p>A seventh-generation farmer, Ross turned a hobby into a thriving business, harvesting in the morning and personally delivering to local chefs by lunchtime.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="703" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/Ross-Geach-Padstow-Kitchen-Garden-1000x703.jpg" alt="What's cooking? Ross Geach, Padstow Kitchen Garden" class="wp-image-40575" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/Ross-Geach-Padstow-Kitchen-Garden-1000x703.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/Ross-Geach-Padstow-Kitchen-Garden-800x562.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/Ross-Geach-Padstow-Kitchen-Garden-768x540.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/Ross-Geach-Padstow-Kitchen-Garden-1536x1079.jpg 1536w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/Ross-Geach-Padstow-Kitchen-Garden-2048x1439.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ross Geach in the <a href="https://www.padstowkitchengarden.co.uk/feasts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Padstow Kitchen Garden</a> fields at Trerethern Farm, Padstow</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-your-first-job-in-a-kitchen">Your first job in a kitchen?</h2>



<p>Washing dishes at <a href="https://rickstein.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rick Stein&#8217;s restaurants</a> in Padstow when I was 13! It was the start of my interest and fascination with professional kitchens. I basically worked my way up to become the group&#8217;s youngest head chef when I was 21. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-your-career-highlight">What is your career highlight?</h2>



<p>I do so many different things across the farm in the kitchen garden, with our feasts and events and with my work with Big Green Egg. I love the variety. There&#8217;s so many highlights!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sum-up-your-food-philosophy">Sum up your food philosophy?</h2>



<p>Farm to plate: reared on the farm, harvested that morning and cooked over fire.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="671" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/Padstow-Kitchen-Garden-1000x671.jpg" alt="view over the camel estuary from padstow kitchen garden" class="wp-image-40574" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/Padstow-Kitchen-Garden-1000x671.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/Padstow-Kitchen-Garden-800x537.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/Padstow-Kitchen-Garden-768x515.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/Padstow-Kitchen-Garden-1536x1031.jpg 1536w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/Padstow-Kitchen-Garden.jpg 1797w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-most-memorable-moment-at-work">Most memorable moment at work?</h2>



<p>When I left my chef career to work for myself on the farm and realised I didn&#8217;t have a boss any more, that was quite a moment! More recently, it&#8217;s been amazing to see our feasts and events take off. Last year we built luxury shepherds huts on the farm; it is such a lovely moment seeing guests wander over from their hut to the barn for a workshop or feast. It shows me how far we&#8217;ve come in creating memorable experiences for people here. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="750" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/View-from-the-huts-1000x750.jpeg" alt="view from the shepherd huts across to the Camel Estuary at Padstow Kitchen Garden" class="wp-image-40579" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/View-from-the-huts-1000x750.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/View-from-the-huts-800x600.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/View-from-the-huts-768x576.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/View-from-the-huts-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/View-from-the-huts-2048x1536.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">view from the shepherd huts across to the Camel Estuary</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ever-cooked-for-anyone-famous">Ever cooked for anyone famous?</h2>



<p>Actually yes, but I probably shouldn&#8217;t name them! Lots of guests at our <a href="https://www.padstowkitchengarden.co.uk/feasts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">feasts</a> and private events are in the public eye, but all I will say is that our Big Green Egg &amp; BBQ cooking is popular with rugby players and other sports people.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-been-your-biggest-mistake-at-work">What’s been your biggest mistake at work?</h2>



<p>One summer feast, we decided to lay the tables up outside in the field. I was really confident it would look great and optimistic about the weather. Just before the guests arrived the wind changed direction; it was chaos, with wine glasses blowing over and the table settings a mess! We had to quickly move the tables back inside the barn. This is why we always do feasts inside now, but with one side of the barn open, overlooking the estuary. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/Feasts-at-Padstow-Kitchen-Garden-Cornwall-1000x667.jpg" alt="Feasts at Padstow Kitchen Garden Cornwall" class="wp-image-40580" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/Feasts-at-Padstow-Kitchen-Garden-Cornwall-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/Feasts-at-Padstow-Kitchen-Garden-Cornwall-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/Feasts-at-Padstow-Kitchen-Garden-Cornwall-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/Feasts-at-Padstow-Kitchen-Garden-Cornwall.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Feasts at Padstow Kitchen Garden Cornwall</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-you-re-tired-starving-and-impatient-what-do-you-cook-for-dinner">You’re tired, starving and impatient: what do you cook for dinner?</h2>



<p>I always batch cook using ingredients from the farm or leftovers to minimise waste. There&#8217;s usually a curry or stew on hand to warm up if it&#8217;s been a busy day! </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-would-you-cook-to-impress-a-date">What would you cook to impress a date?</h2>



<p>Usually I like to keep things simple but if I want to spoil my girlfriend I&#8217;d make her something like Lobster Linguine. It takes a little more time and care; perfect for a special occasion.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-favourite-chef">Favourite chef?</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="563" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2023/02/Rick-Stein-1000x563.jpg" alt="Rick Stein BBC" class="wp-image-29633" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2023/02/Rick-Stein-1000x563.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2023/02/Rick-Stein-800x451.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2023/02/Rick-Stein-768x433.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2023/02/Rick-Stein-900x507.jpg 900w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2023/02/Rick-Stein.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Rick Stein at Trevose Head, Mother Ivey’s Bay (c) Shine TV Ltd </figcaption></figure>



<p>I&#8217;m not sure I could say anyone other than Rick Stein. His <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/programmes/b006xkb4/episodes" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Food Heroes series</a> (BBC) really inspired me. It gave me motivation to think about how our sustainable farm produce and cheffing could go hand in hand. My years in the kitchen in his restaurants were the most incredible experience. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-favourite-cookbook">Favourite cookbook?</h2>



<p>The Pitt Cue cookbook. Pitt Cue revolutionised BBQ cookery in the UK and it has some amazing contributions from great UK chefs who learned from the best US BBQ chefs, and includes local Cornwall based chefs too. And of course, Tom Adams, one of the authors, is nearby at Coombeshead Farm, below.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/03/Coombeshead-Farm-RB-1000x667.jpg" alt="Coombeshead Farm Lewinnick near Launceston " class="wp-image-36563" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/03/Coombeshead-Farm-RB-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/03/Coombeshead-Farm-RB-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/03/Coombeshead-Farm-RB-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/03/Coombeshead-Farm-RB.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-favourite-type-of-cuisine">Favourite type of cuisine?</h2>



<p>I have done a lot of cookery classes in Thailand and I love the way bringing in different spices adds to the kitchen garden produce at the farm. We&#8217;ve started to experiment with more cuisines at our feasts and have a Thai inspired feast in August at the Farm &#8211; that&#8217;s one I&#8217;m really looking forward to. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/Big-Green-Egg-events-Padstow-Kitchen-Garden-Cornwall-1000x667.jpg" alt="Big Green Egg events Padstow Kitchen Garden Cornwall" class="wp-image-40576" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/Big-Green-Egg-events-Padstow-Kitchen-Garden-Cornwall-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/Big-Green-Egg-events-Padstow-Kitchen-Garden-Cornwall-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/Big-Green-Egg-events-Padstow-Kitchen-Garden-Cornwall-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/Big-Green-Egg-events-Padstow-Kitchen-Garden-Cornwall.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Big Green Egg events at Padstow Kitchen Garden, Cornwall</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-favourite-kitchen-gadget">Favourite kitchen gadget?</h2>



<p>Does a Big Green Egg count as a gadget?! I&#8217;m an ambassador for BGE and genuinely cook on it a few times a week: everything from fresh day boat fish to grilled meat from the farm, to dishes using the wok attachment or dutch oven. Once you cook with the smoky flavour it&#8217;s quite hard to go back to cooking any other way! </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-favourite-local-hotspots">Favourite local hotspots?</h2>



<p>I supply so many amazing restaurants with products from the farm. The Golden Lion in Padstow is our firm favourite for a roast dinner.  We love Prawn on the Lawn for a date night or with a group of friends &#8211; their changing seasonal small plates menu is brilliant (and they use a lot of our PKG produce).</p>



<p>For the family, we love a trip to the Dog House in St Merryn for pizza &#8211; their pizza oven is something else! </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/Ross-Geach-at-Padstow-Kitchen-Garden-Cornwall-1000x667.jpg" alt="Ross Geach at Padstow Kitchen Garden Cornwall" class="wp-image-40577" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/Ross-Geach-at-Padstow-Kitchen-Garden-Cornwall-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/Ross-Geach-at-Padstow-Kitchen-Garden-Cornwall-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/Ross-Geach-at-Padstow-Kitchen-Garden-Cornwall-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/Ross-Geach-at-Padstow-Kitchen-Garden-Cornwall.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-favourite-local-markets-and-suppliers">Favourite local markets and suppliers?</h2>



<p>I don&#8217;t really go to many, because I&#8217;m my own favourite produce supplier!  Getting fish from local day boats and using from the farm means we don&#8217;t need to go to many other people.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-favourite-things-to-eat-when-you-re-on-holiday">Favourite things to eat when you’re on holiday?</h2>



<p>Whatever&#8217;s local and cooked infront of me &#8211; but if I&#8217;m in Europe then I look for a spaghetti vongole.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-mistake-do-inexperienced-cooks-tend-to-make">What mistake do inexperienced cooks tend to make?</h2>



<p>I say this quite a lot on my workshops: cooking to time and not to temperature. Quite a lot of people ask &#8220;how long does that take to cook?&#8221; to which my answer is usually that it depends on the ingredients and environment. It&#8217;s a skill that&#8217;s worth working on to make sure you&#8217;re watching, testing and understanding temperatures, particularly in BBQ cooking.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/Food-from-the-Big-Green-Egg-at-Padstow-Kitchen-Garden-Cornwall-1000x667.jpg" alt="Big Green Egg events Padstow Kitchen Garden Cornwall" class="wp-image-40578" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/Food-from-the-Big-Green-Egg-at-Padstow-Kitchen-Garden-Cornwall-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/Food-from-the-Big-Green-Egg-at-Padstow-Kitchen-Garden-Cornwall-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/Food-from-the-Big-Green-Egg-at-Padstow-Kitchen-Garden-Cornwall-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/Food-from-the-Big-Green-Egg-at-Padstow-Kitchen-Garden-Cornwall.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-favourite-ingredient-and-why">Favourite ingredient and why?</h2>



<p>Sherry vinegar! I use it in everything. I make a lovely tomato and sherry vinegar salsa that goes amazingly well with our Trerethern Farm pork chops. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-most-overrated-ingredient">Most overrated ingredient?</h2>



<p>Truffle, I think. It seems to be everywhere and I find it overpowers the taste of fresh ingredients.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-dish-you-re-most-proud-of-creating">The dish you’re most proud of creating?</h2>



<p>I&#8217;m usually quite proud when we work with an ingredient we have surplus of and shape the menu around it. Cauliflower for example, and therefore every course of a feast must use it. We had soup, a cauli-cheese arancini, and so on. It&#8217;s fun to work with whatever is seasonal and available. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tell-us-your-best-ever-cooking-tip">Tell us your best ever cooking tip?</h2>



<p>Keeping it simple. Buy best local ingredients and let the cooking do the talking. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-three-dishes-every-home-cook-should-master">Three dishes every home cook should master?</h2>



<ul>
<li>A really good pie</li>



<li>A curry that can be made with anything seasonal</li>



<li>BBQ&#8217;d fish</li>
</ul>



<p><strong><em><a href="https://www.padstowkitchengarden.co.uk/feasts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Padstow Kitchen Garden</a>, Trerethern Farm, Padstow PL28 8LE</em></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="890" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/Shepherds-Hut-890x1000.png" alt="Shepherds Hut at Padstow Kitchen Garden Cornwall" class="wp-image-40581" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/Shepherds-Hut-890x1000.png 890w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/Shepherds-Hut-712x800.png 712w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/Shepherds-Hut-768x863.png 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/Shepherds-Hut.png 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 890px) 100vw, 890px" /></figure>



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<p></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-in-the-mood-for-more">IN THE MOOD FOR MORE?</h2>



<ul>
<li><a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/best-cookery-schools-uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Simmer down: The best cookery schools across the UK</a></li>



<li><a href="https://cornwall.muddystilettos.co.uk/life/people/josie-gibson-westcountry-itv-cornwall/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Josie Gibson is on a Westcountry telly tour, and her last stop is Cornwall</a></li>



<li><a href="https://cornwall.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/food-festivals-cornwall/">Cornwall’s Food Festivals 2026</a></li>
</ul>


What’s cooking? Ross Geach, Padstow Kitchen Garden

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