A Cumbrian chef has been listed among the best in the UK.
Nina Matsunaga, chef-owner of The Black Bull in Sedbergh, has been named in a list of the UK’s top 40 female chefs, in a list compiled by Champagne Ayala and SquareMeal.
This year’s run-down includes Michelin-starred legends and fine dining champions as well as emerging talent, many of whom are mixing up traditional techniques and combining them with new ways of presenting food.
Data from the Office for National Statistics shows that in 2017 only 17% of chef positions in the UK were held by women.
Nina’s inspired use of flavours from her Japanese and German heritage, underpinned by her use of the very best seasonal British ingredients has won her critical acclaim.
Alongside emerging talent such as Nina sit a host of industry luminaries including the likes of Hélène Darroze, Lisa Godwin-Allen, Sally Abe, Monica Galetti, Pam Brunton, Angela Hartnett, Anne-Sophie Pic, Nieves Barrágan Mohacho and Stosie Madi.
Nina said: ‘’I certainly didn’t expect to be listed among the UK’s top 40 female chefs list compiled by Champagne Ayala and SquareMeal. Being in the company of some of the industry’s iconic female chefs is pretty amazing.‘
‘’The one thing we’ve always tried to be is an inclusive team -as far as we’re concerned all that matters is that you have the ability and skill to be able to do your job and to have the wherewithal to be prepared to evolve, learn and develop in your role so that you can meet the challenges you will inevitably face in a busy working kitchen and above all grow as a person.’’
