Kitchen Porter of the Month: Molly Whitmarsh, The Long Arms, Wiltshire

We feature some of the best chef’s in the world on The Staff Canteen but where would they be without their KP? We thought it was time to celebrate the unsung heroes of the kitchen in a new monthly feature, KP of the Month, and this month it is Molly Whitmarsh from The Long Arms in Wiltshire.

Nominated by head chef Robert Allcock,  we spoke to 18-year-old Molly about why she loves being in the kitchen, her favourite dish and why she hates the stock pot!

How long have you worked at The Long Arms for?

Just over two years.

Why did you want to be a KP?

I fell into it, I was looking for a Saturday job when I was 16 and I came across The Long Arms and since then one thing has led to another and now I’m here full time.

Were you already interested in food and cooking?

This is my first job so I was just looking for something which interested me. The atmosphere in the kitchen is incredible here.

>>> Read more in the KP of the Month series

Are you interested in cooking or happy to stay as a KP?

I help with quite a bit of food prep now because we get so much fresh produce in every day. There’s always something new to do or something new to try. But I’m quite happy doing what I do, I know my job and I let Rob deal with the pressure! I’m just going to see where it takes me.

What is it like to work at The Long Arms, and what is Rob like as a boss?

It’s incredible, the atmosphere is amazing and it’s fun. But it’s still professional and we all get on really well and work as a good team. There’s something new to learn everyday so no day is the same.

Rob is a brilliant boss, he’s hilarious and he’s an inspiration – I’ve never met anyone who can work as hard as he can. He literally does everything from scratch himself – it’s incredible.

As a KP, what’s the most annoying thing chefs do in the kitchen?

Probably the mess, but that just comes with the job so I don’t mind and I can’t complain. It’s worse during morning prep, there is so much going on you have to keep on top of everything.

Is there anything chefs could do to make your life easier?

It sounds stupid but I can’t think of anything, may be if they cleaned up a bit more as they go so I could finish what I was doing rather than doing two things at once.

How do you find being a woman in the kitchen?

Rob is the only man! He’s the only chef in the kitchen full time, there is another lady who does a lot of the food prep with him but normally it’s just Rob, he’s a machine! Like I said I’ve never met anyone who can work like Rob can, it’s six days a week, split shifts, every week.

And do you get to try the food?

Everyone here gets to try a bit of the food before it goes out, from steak, potato terrine to beetroot risotto. There’s always something to try which is a perk! My favourite is a dessert, white chocolate and caramel fondant – it’s beautiful.

Would you encourage other chefs to nominate and celebrate their KPs?

Definitely, it’s a confidence booster and it shows we are important.

>>> Read more KP of the Month features here

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