WORK • Wednesday Routine
SANTIAGO LASTRA • chef • KOL
Neighbourhood you live in: West London
Neighbourhood you work in: Marylebone
It’s Thursday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
I start most mornings commuting to Marylebone and KOL, where I work on new dish ideas with our Head of Research and Development in our test kitchen. We’re always tasting and trying new developments, according to what produce we have and what our suppliers have in stock.
What’s on the agenda for today?
We’ll start with R&D for the new menu, then a PR and marketing meeting to go through the strategy and documents for different events and partnerships. Next, I’ll try a few dishes with our head chef, Rey, before lunch service. Over lunch, I’m busy finishing dishes, serving guests and talking to people, then it’s over to our other restaurant, Fonda, for short rib tacos at staff meal. In the afternoon, I’ll have a catch-up with Fonda’s managers and a briefing with the team. I’ll speak to Fonda’s head chef, Lewis, to check the mise en place and taste a few dishes, then finally I’m on the dinner service at Fonda, overseeing the pass, running the food and chatting with the guests.
Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
In Soho, I’ll visit Kiln or Mountain. For a more casual meal, Trullo in Islington, which has amazing pasta, and Sushi Show in Camden or Shoreditch, which is always reliable.
How about a little leisure or culture?
I love cold water swimming, followed by the sauna, and I also love football and basketball in the warmer months. Earlier in the year, I saw Lily Collins’ play, Barcelona. It was fantastic.
Any weekend getaways?
Somerset is beautiful and has great local restaurants and pubs to explore, and you can see the fields where most of the produce comes from. I’d love to head up to Scotland sometime to visit Pam Brunton’s restaurant, Inver. In Kent, The Sportsman is another great place outside of London.
What was your last great vacation?
The Yucatan Peninsula. While visiting family in Mexico, my girlfriend and I took a few days to enjoy the beaches in the Caribbean and see the cenotes – huge underground water caves that are super cool. We also took a day trip to explore the jungle and had some incredible cochinita pibil.
What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
A Moleskine Smartpen and notebook. You write or draw with the pen and paper like normal, and it transfers the note instantly to your phone. It’s great to have an easy backup of notes online, especially as my notes get dirty in the kitchen. I write in a creativity journal now, and it’s the best way to keep track of those ideas without losing inspiration or getting distracted by my phone.
What store or service do you always recommend?
Notting Hill Fish + Meat, a chef’s dream for its wide variety of international, local and seasonal products. They have everything there, from fresh tuna to carrots. It’s not a typical grocery shop, so it’s not cheap, but the quality is fantastic and worth it.