The Staff Canteen Live 2025: FOH networking lunch at KAJI
Fire-based dining restaurant KAJI in Manchester hosted our latest 2025 networking lunch for front of house professionals, on Monday, July 7.
Run by former Freemasons at Wiswell chef Steven Smith, KAJI opened in Manchester city centre last year, marrying British produce with Asian flavours.
The Staff Canteen launched chef networking lunches in 2016, incorporating front of house events from 2020, which are now run once every quarter.
THE GUESTS
Today at KAJI, we welcomed 13 front of house industry professionals for the lunch.
Alice Houghton, area operations manager, Longbow Venues
Dima Popov, service leader, Adam Reid at The French
Elisa Tazioli, restaurant manager, Another Hand
Jonathan Steeper, assistant general manager, The Psalter
Kimberley Talbot, general manager, Eight at Gazegill
Laura-Stefania Mocanu, reservations manager, Tattu Restaurant
Magali Duclos, restaurant manager, Sō-lō
Natalia Maiseionok, sommelier, Fischer’s Baslow Hall
Nathan McCormick, group head sommelier, Rafters
Nicola Lowe, restaurant manager, Restaurant Örme
Richard Cossins, hospitality director, DJR Food and Beverage Ltd
Sahara Madera Lorca, restaurant manager, Pellizco
Tom Ford, restaurant manager, Manifest
Richard Cossins, whose role encompasses that of co-owner of Higher Ground, Flawd, Cinderwood Market Garden and Bar Shrimp, said: “It’s not what I’m usually doing on a Monday! It’s really wonderful to meet so many like-minded professionals.
“It’s great to connect with those who are based locally and are very well-regarded establishments in their own right. It’s great to find the opportunity to sit down and talk with them.
“We’re going to open Bar Shrimp soon, which is a seafood bar, so I was talking to Chris (Currie) from Hoshizaki as we’re going to need some ice. So it was great timing to meet him."
Asked to pick his favourite
part of the meal today, Richard added: “That lamb main course was great.”
Sahara Madera Lorca, restaurant manager at Pellizco, said: "For me, it’s making genuine connections in the hospitality industry. I’ve met loads of different kinds of people, in different areas within our industry.
"People come first. I adore people and I think the challenges and what we do and what we’re all about and the differences is what makes our job worthwhile.
"The conversations with all of the sponsors have been really interesting. I can trust a person if I’ve spoken to them.
"The people that were invited were very interesting. More of this please!"
Sahara highlighted the sushi and also pig's cheek and scallop as her favourites of the day.
THE SPONSORS
A special thanks to our five sponsors today - Nyetimber, Hoshizaki, Hit Training, Sevenrooms and Lightspeed.
Ed Ellison, north field sales manager at Lightspeed, said: “It’s been very nice meeting some owners and managers of restaurants, finding out their pain points and how Lightspeed would be able to help them moving forward. It was definitely worthwhile.
“I had a couple of really good conversations to follow up on and also met some people that my team have been chasing.”
Ed also selected the lamb as his dish of the day.
THE MENU
Canapes
King prawn crumpet
KAJI fried Louët-Feisser oysters
Chef’s sushi selection
Nyetimber Blanc de Blancs 2016
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Bread and Butter
Crispy chilli buns, pickled jalapeno butter
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XL Manx Scallops
Sticky pigs’ cheek, katsu curry ketchup, fresh yoghurt, apple and coriander
1086 by Nyetimber 2013
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Koji Aged Herdwick Lamb Rack
BBQ rack, tomato ponzu, spring green
Nyetimber Rose MV
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Lukman Farm Strawberry
House puff pastry, szechuan pepper ice cream, Thai basil
Nyetimber Cuvee Chérie MV
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Treats
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The Staff Canteen Live 2025: FOH networking lunch at KAJI
