Meet the Chef
For Derek hospitality is in the blood.
Raised by restaurateur parents in the English West Midlands, Derek began his career working with his father during school holidays and weekends. He then went to college to study Hospitality management. After studying for two years he found his passion lay in the kitchen.
He has worked for Michelin star chefs like David Everrit-Mathias of the 2 Michelin star Le Champignon Sauvage in Cheltenham. In top London 5 star hotels like The Lanseborough Hotel and The Royal Garden Hotel. He also worked with Chris Galvin, Australian chef John Torode at Sir Terrence Conrans Mezzo in Soho in London.
His first position as Head chef was at the 5 star Royal Garden hotel in High St Kensington next to Kensington Palace where he was in charge of the fine dining restaurant called the Tenth. There he gained recognition by various reviewers and restaurant guides. The Tenth restaurant achieved the status in the AA good food guide by being in the top 10% of restaurants in the U.K with 3 Rosettes.
After a total of 4 years at the Tenth he then moved to Blackheath, south east London where he was head chef for a year and half at Chapter Two restaurant and was recognised by the Michelin Guide with a Bib Gourmand.
He then took time off at the end of 2001 to go travelling and found himself in Australia. While travelling around Australia he worked at various places like Crown Casino in Melbourne and also Bathers Pavilion at Balmoral Beach in Sydney. After going back to England at the end of 2002 he was Back in Australia as Sous chef in the Restaurant with Serge Danserau at Bathers Pavilion where he stayed there for a year and a bit. He then moved on to be head chef at Hickson road Bistro at the Sydney Theatre Company at Walsh Bay in the Rocks, Sydney.
In March 2005 he opened the doors of Alchemy 731 in the suburb of Mosman on the North Shore 15 min from the CBD of Sydney.
Derek is chef owner of the restaurant and with his team of dedicated professional’s strives to maintain a restaursnt which delivers good food and service at an affordable price.
» The Tenth Restaurant and Bar
