I have recently joined the team at One Warwick Park Hotel and now run the kitchen for SEVENTEEN as Head Chef.
My first cooking experience goes back 24 years. I remember helping my mum in the kitchen at our family home. After a few years my interest in cooking became stronger after my aunt invited me to visit a professional kitchen at a boutique hotel that she managed, and still does to this day.
Entering that professional kitchen was the deciding moment for me to become a Chef. I went on to achieve a culinary diploma in one of Latvia’s top Culinary Institutions, after which I chose to travel around the world and gain as much experience in various multi-cultural cuisines, I still draw inspiration from those experiences for my creations today.
I have always has been passionate and creative with my menus and like to experiment with different flavours, one of my favourite combinations at the moment is dark chocolate and beetroot; in fact beetroot is one of the my preferred products on the British market, its vibrant colour and versatility never ceases to amaze me.
Tunbridge Wells is a new area for me and my aim is to bring SEVENTEEN restaurant to be the point of destination for the local community as well as visitors, where everyone can enjoy a professional service and beautifully presented and well balanced dishes.
My aim is to ensure that our customers are always happy, intrigued with our current menu and look forward to their next visit every time.
I think that the best compliment for many chefs is the satisfaction of our customers and a busy restaurant. I always create my dishes and source my products locally, an I strongly believe that supporting local suppliers is integral for any community.
In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family and travelling. On my days off I am most likely to be enjoying a long walk in the Ashdown Forest with our Basset Hound, Alfred, and my wife. The beautiful surroundings always help me create new ideas for my next menu.
You can enjoy Alek’s and his teams culinary creations every day of the week at SEVENTEEN, to book simply call 01892 520587.
