Chef Q&A

We did a quick Q&A with two of our amazing chefs, Jordan and Gabi, about food, work and hospitality life. They are both incredibly important parts of the R&V team and bring flair and finesse to every menu item.

What is your favourite item on the R&V menu?

Jordan: The chicken and chorizo paella bowl food and the mini beef burrito bowl. I love the concept of bowl food as it is perfect to eat when standing up at events and you get to have 4 or 5 mini meals!

Gabi: I really believe that we serve one of the best coffees in Manchester city centre so that would be my first pick, and you know us chefs love a coffee! From the food menu, I love our roasted pepper and hummus baguette slice canape – I could snack on it all day.

What is the most underrated item on the menu?

Jordan: Bento Boxes – you get a nice little bit of everything, and it’s almost like having a packed lunch 

Gabi: I agree with Jordan that our bento boxes make for a great lunch. Our apple and cucumber coleslaw is also a perfect side dish and isn’t ordered as much as it should be!

What is your go-to meal to cook at home?

Jordan: A good old homely Sunday dinner

Gabi: Any kind of soup – it is my comfort food for any occasion, and I can’t go longer than few days without it.

Do you have a favourite ingredient?

Jordan: Garlic, always!

Gabi: I am Lithuanian, so we love to cook with lots of potatoes and celery… I also love garlic and, of course, salt and pepper.

What is the best part about working in the hospitality industry?

Jordan: Getting to experiment with different foods and menus… being able to do what I love every day and get paid for it is such a good feeling. Good food makes people happy!

Gabi: Meeting new people and the fact that there are no two days the same. Also, there’s plenty places that gives you discount if you work in hospitality (wink wink)

What is your favourite restaurant in Manchester?  

Jordan: I LOVE Freight Island. There are so many amazing individual food and drinks vendors, along with incredible music – what more could you ask for! Smoking Coal is my favourite for summer; their beef short rib poutine is to die for.

Gabi: (My) mama’s kitchen. Honestly, I don’t eat out too much, but if I had to choose it would be Capri’s Cucina – an amazing Italian family-run restaurant. The dishes are simple but delicious; you can they always use all fresh ingredients for their menu.

Favourite dessert/ sweet treat?

Jordan: Banana bread or different flavoured sorbet (lemon/ raspberry are my go-to)

Gabi: Sticky toffee pudding with vanilla ice cream, and I will never say no to chocolate.

What would your death row meal be?

Jordan: My mums beef stew with nanas Irish soda bread

Gabi: A hearty bowl of ramen

What do you always have in your fridge at home?

Both: Carrots and garlic! We both buy food as and when we need it but these 2 items always seem to be in the fridge

If you could cook for anyone in the world (dead or alive) who would it be and what would you cook?

Jordan: A Caribbean style feast for Bob Marley

Gabi:  Steve Irwin, he was and still is a legend. I would prepare a Lithuanian dessert called “Skruzdelynas”, which means ant nest. It sounds and looks weird, but it’s so delicious. It’s one of my favourite desserts of all time.

Thank you for reading!