Mike Bryan of The Bees Country Kitchen - Chorley Market

Our featured foodie this month is Mike Bryan, aka as the hotpot man of The Bees Country Kitchen who recently opened an outlet on Chorley market, serving up proper wholesome home-made dishes to the people of Chorley. As well as providing an outside catering service ,The Bees Country kitchen also supply a great selection of make at home kits (soups, brownies, salad dressing etc.) and can create fabulous gift hampers for your friends, relations and business contacts.
The emphasis is is on fresh local and seasonal produce being used to create tasty affordable food with a healthy twist, so pop along and enjoy one of their dishes. More details can be found on facebook and twitter .

• What is your favorite cookery or food book or publication ?

My bashed up old copy of ‘Practical Cookery’ which I used as a student at Scarborough technical College in the early 80's. A great source of proper ‘from scratch’ recipes.

• What sentence sums up Lancashire Food to you ?

Hearty, healthy, wholesome and the best produce on our doorstep.

• If you weren't doing what you do now, what would you like to be ?

A jazz DJ in a dingy basement dive in New Orleans. Music is my other great passion and you can hear my ’Soul Moves’ show on Chorley FM every Thursday night from 10 pm to midnight. We’re hoping that we’ll expand the business into outside events like music festivals next year.

• Which piece of kit could you not do without ?

My set of Sabatier knives with riveted rose wood handles which I've used since 1982!

• Who would join you at your ultimate dinner party and why?

Nigella – the ultimate domestic goodness other than my wife of course
Levi Roots – a fellow foodie/muso
Craig Bancroft (Northcote MD) – for his amazing wine knowledge
Phil Maile (Chairman – Ludlow Food and Drink Festival) – in charge of our favorite foodie event and an all round nice chap
Karen Brady – for some top business tips

• What advice would you give to your younger self?

Make sure you pass your maths o level!

• Describe your style in three words

Informal, homespun, classic

• What was your latest foodie gadget purchase ?

A wooden lemon squeezer for our home-made lemonade

• What is your greatest achievement to date ?

After 33 years in hospitality, finally opening my own venture

• What is the worst mistake you have made ?

Not doing my masters in hospitality straight after my first degree

• Tell us a secret about yourself ? may be something we wouldn't expect !

I had a two year DJ residency at Sankeys nightclub in Manchester