So, who is Jason Gallagher I hear you ask. Well if you’ve eaten at The Stockbridge Restaurant you’ll have tasted his food. We ate here back in March of this year and we can still remember every flavour and aroma of our meal. The Stockbridge Restaurant has been voted as one of the Top 20 Most Romantic Restaurants in the UK by The Diners’ Choice. We can certainly vouch for that! Jason is head chef and owner of The Stockbridge Restaurant where he works wonders with local ingredients and makes dishes which make you want to keep going back, again and again.
Jason took the time to answer a few of our questions :-
When did you know you wanted to become a chef?
When I was 20 I did a buffet for the bank next to the bar worked in and got hooked!
What would you say is your signature dish?
Halibut, fried quails egg, pancetta, sautéed potatoes spinach mushrooms and Arran mustard sauce – it is currently on our special 10th Birthday set menu!
What inspires you? How do you come up with ideas for the dishes in your restaurant?
I read a lot of Cook books for inspiration and talk to other chefs. I also sometimes use what my partner cooks at home to give me inspiration; it makes me think how I can tweak something to make it restaurant quality.
Do you do the cooking at home?
Not much, I am lucky someone feeds me!
What Scottish ingredient do you love to cook with and why?
Girolle mushroom, they look amazing when you get the perfect ones and look fantastic on a plate.
Do you have any hints or tips for cooking the perfect steak?
Make sure the meat is at room temperature, season both sides, pan has to be super-hot , brush some oil on the meat , seal on both sides , be patient not to turn the meat too quickly and rest before serving.
What is the most essential item in your kitchen?
Kenwood mixer for bread making every day and Theromix for making purees and soups.
Where do you go when you want to eat at a restaurant?
I don’t get much time to eat out as a lot of places are closed on my Monday off. I like going to Michelin Star restaurants for lunch and also local places around where I live for dinner with my family, Nobles Bar is great for a laid back easy dinner in a great pub atmosphere (Miss E – we can vouch for this their brunch is amazing!!).
Have the tastes of customers changed during your career?
Customers have changed a lot over the years; they are now savvier to different food and ingredients and where they are sourced.
What ingredients should every home have in the cupboard/refrigerator?
Every home should have sea salt, a good quality stock for quick sauces and good proper butter for cooking.
Do you have any tips for budding chefs or restaurateurs?
Try and learn something new every day if possible.
The Stockbridge Restaurant |54 St Stephen Street, Edinburgh, EH3 5AL | 0131 226 6766
Above are some of the fantastic dishes we’ve tried and we’ll be using Jason’s tips on how to cook the perfect steak next time we buy some in. It seems if Nobles is good enough for Jason, you should all get yourselves down but only after you’ve all been to The Stockbridge Restaurant. It’s the perfect location for a romantic dinner, believe me the other half will be super impressed if you book here!
we live in Darlington and have eaten at The Stockbridge 7 or 8 times: fantastic food and one of the places i trust to try new food i have never had before. Great wine list too