Masterchef Simon is setting his sights high
MASTERCHEF winner and local lad Simon Wood opens his first restaurant this week – and is bidding for it to be among the city’s very best.
Wood, who hails from Chadderton and won Masterchef in 2015, is putting the finishing touches to his eponymous restaurant on First Street ahead of Thursday’s official opening.
The spacious restaurant has an open kitchen and a private dining room at mezzanine level where Wood will serve up a menu of bold British flavours with head chef and the former owner of Grenache, Mike Jennings.
He told the M.E.N. he was going for ‘affordable fine dining’ and add to Manchester’s higher end dining scene – which has still not managed to claim that elusive Michelin star.
“I want it to be fine dining, but accessible, and affordable,” he said. “Some things on the menu are expensive, but nice things are. I think the tasting menu is competitive, and then the bar menu is really low prices for a more casual snack with drinks after work.
“My two favourite restaurants in Manchester are The French and Manchester House and although I wouldn’t say I’m going up against them, I’m certainly aiming to be in that bracket.”
Wood isn’t fussed about stars though – and is more focussed on establishing his restaurant and a destination for Manchester diners. It will initially open five days a week instead of seven, to keep his team ‘fresh and motivated.’
“Michelin stars don’t really interest me,” he said. “Running a good restaurant that is consistent is what I’m concerned about. Get that right and the rest of it follows. Stars and accolades aren’t for me to worry about really.”
The centrepiece of Wood is the chef’s table right in front of the open kitchen – although Wood and his team will be visible from every seat in the house.
“Our kitchen is open so everyone can appreciate how hard we work,” he said. “But the kitchen is the heartbeat of any restaurant so we wanted that to be a focal point.
“I don’t mind being watched. I’ve cooked in front of 7m people on Masterchef so I reckon I can do it in front of 80.”
Wood said he’s look all over the city for the right spot before eventually plumping for the burgeoning area of First Street, which also counts The Liquor Store, Gasworks Brew Bar and Indian Tiffin Room among the food and drink tenants, as well as arts hub HOME.