Devon


<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="879" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/08/Mark-Budd.jpg" alt="Executive head chef at Bovey Castle, Mark Budd" class="wp-image-57825" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/08/Mark-Budd.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/08/Mark-Budd-800x469.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/08/Mark-Budd-1000x586.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/08/Mark-Budd-768x450.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/08/Mark-Budd-896x525.jpg 896w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Exciting intel for foodies! Bovey Castle’s award-winning restaurant, <a href="https://www.boveycastle.com/eat/great-western/">The Great Western Grill</a>, has just relaunched following a three-year absence and a whopping £1.2m refurb. High time we say hello to the executive head chef (and local), Totnes-born Mark Budd, who has been at the helm during the refurb and at the helm at Bovey Castle since April 2015, after 24 years in London.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-well-hello-mark-your-first-ever-kitchen-job-was">Well hello, Mark! Your first ever kitchen job was…</h2>



<p>Dartington Hall in Totnes, Devon, as a teenager.&nbsp;It got me into the hotel restaurant sector and inspired me to go to London to work with some of the best. &nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Career highlights?</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/08/DSC_6631.jpg" alt="oyster dish at Great Western Grill, Bovey Castle" class="wp-image-57835" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/08/DSC_6631.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/08/DSC_6631-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/08/DSC_6631-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/08/DSC_6631-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/08/DSC_6631-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>I&#8217;m a member of The Royal Academy of Culinary Arts, which is the place to be for Britain&#8217;s head chefs, head pastry chefs, restaurant managers and suppliers. I became a member when I was quite young too. That meant a lot to me as you’re trained by an academy chef and recognised by like-minded people for your talent and skill.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Describe your cooking style and what diners can expect from a meal&nbsp;at The Great Western Grill.</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/07/bovey-greatwestern.jpg" alt="steak dinner at Great Western Grill, Bovey Castle" class="wp-image-57390" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/07/bovey-greatwestern.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/07/bovey-greatwestern-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/07/bovey-greatwestern-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/07/bovey-greatwestern-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/07/bovey-greatwestern-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Good honest food, well-executed, simply garnished. We’re all about the best produce and using the best ingredients which are sustainable and locally-sourced. Devon’s a hotbed for that so we strive to bring in as much from the region and estate to showcase the best of British. I’m a big advocate for our cuisine.&nbsp;</p>



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



<p>We had a Millenium Gala Dinner at The Ritz which was special. It was a 13-course dinner, as bling as you can get with the best ingredients you could find put into one menu – the best truffles, bries, the best meats. As a chef it was fantastic and an environment you thrive in.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Ever cooked for any celebs?</h2>



<p>I’ve cooked for most of the Royal Family which is probably right up there. I did Elton John’s 50th birthday at The Hammersmith Palais which was quite a good one. It was all over the papers as they all dressed up and had Tudor wigs. He has a fast-food themed birthday with things like truffle pizzas, so it was a bit different.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Biggest mistake you’ve ever made at work?</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/08/DSC_6738.jpg" alt="dish from Great Western Grill, Bovey Castle" class="wp-image-57836" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/08/DSC_6738.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/08/DSC_6738-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/08/DSC_6738-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/08/DSC_6738-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/08/DSC_6738-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>I cooked asparagus with rubber bands on once – I got a bit of a telling off!&nbsp;</p>



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



<p>My go-to is always chilli con carne. You can’t beat it with a beer or two.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What would you cook for a date night dinner?</h2>



<p>Cheesy beans on toast. You’ve got to put cheese on the bottom, beans on top, and another layer of cheese as well with lots of black pepper. My wife loves it. It’s her favourite meal. I’ve been married for 20 years so it seems to work!&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Favourite chef and why they inspire you?</h2>



<p>Probably some of the chefs I’ve worked with. I’ve been incredibly lucky to learn from some of the best when I was in London. Giles Thompson and David Chambers brought out the best in me and I learned a lot from them on the way they invest in people. I’ve always carried that into my own kitchens.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">All-time favourite cookbooks?</h2>



<p>The<em> <a href="https://www.waterstones.com/book/escoffier/auguste-escoffier/h-l-cracknell/9780080967721">Escoffier</a></em> – it’s a classic I always use for reference.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Favourite type/nationality of cuisine and why?</h2>



<p>French and British. It’s what I trained in really, but there’s a lot of common ground between the two as well.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Best kitchen gadget you own?</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/08/The-new-kitchen-at-Bovey-Castle.jpg" alt="The new kitchen at Bovey Castle" class="wp-image-57845" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/08/The-new-kitchen-at-Bovey-Castle.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/08/The-new-kitchen-at-Bovey-Castle-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/08/The-new-kitchen-at-Bovey-Castle-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/08/The-new-kitchen-at-Bovey-Castle-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/08/The-new-kitchen-at-Bovey-Castle-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption>The shiny new kitchen at Bovey Castle</figcaption></figure>



<p>We’ve just had a brand-new kitchen installed at Bovey so I’m still playing around with everything, but I love the Charvet cooking suite. It’s full-induction with multi-pan zones, steel planchas, ovens, fryers and chargrills – the works. It’s one of the best I’ve worked with.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Most underrated ingredient and why?</h2>



<p>Salt. It enhances everything.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Favourite local foodie spot?</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="960" height="960" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/08/court-farm.jpg" alt="Court Farm Inn, Kingkerswell" class="wp-image-57832" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/08/court-farm.jpg 960w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/08/court-farm-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/08/court-farm-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/08/court-farm-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/08/court-farm-525x525.jpg 525w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/08/court-farm-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" /></figure>



<p>I like <a href="https://courtfarminn.com">Court Farm Inn</a> in Kingskerswell. It’s my local so I like to just sit there and have a bite to eat. The chilli nachos are great. &nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Top cooking mantra?</h2>



<p>Discipline. Not necessarily with people, but in your cooking. You need to be on top of things, getting your timings right.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Dishes every home cook should master…</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/08/DSC_6806.jpg" alt="shellfish dish at Great Western Grill, Bovey Castle" class="wp-image-57830" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/08/DSC_6806.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/08/DSC_6806-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/08/DSC_6806-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/08/DSC_6806-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/08/DSC_6806-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Cooking fish. It’s one of those dishes people don’t always do it at home because they’re afraid to do it and it’s outside their comfort zone, and when they do, a lot of people overcook it. But if you get it right it can be beautiful. I say that as being someone from the coast so I might be biased!</p>



<p><strong>Want more tasty morsels from Bovey Castle? Read the full <a href="https://devon.muddystilettos.co.uk/travel/uk/hotels-and-inns/stay-review-bovey-castle-dartmoor/">Muddy review </a>then book in for a meal at the new Great Western Grill, pronto!</strong></p>



<p><strong><em><a href="https://www.boveycastle.com/eat/great-western/">Great Western Grill,</a> Bovey Castle, North Bovey, Dartmoor National Park, Devon, TQ13 8RE. Tel:&nbsp;01647 445000</em></strong></p>


What’s cooking? Meet executive head chef at Bovey Castle, Mark Budd

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