Eilish Maloney

“I want my own restaurant by the time I’m 30. Being female, I’ve always thought I have to work harder than the boys, maybe because I’m only half their size.”

For Valdes Pardo at Bar Patrón, one of the biggest challenges of the job is putting on her game face during the stress of service. “I become much stronger with language, much more forceful,” she says. “With the other chefs, it’s like, ‘Yes, chef!’ but with some other staff I have to make sure I tell them beforehand that they have to do what I say. For some of the waiters, it can be difficult, going from me being all nice and friendly to ‘You listen to me!’” But, she adds, setting aside her mild-mannered self during the onslaught of service is about leadership rather than adopting male traits. A single mother to five-year-old daughter Valentina, Valdes Pardo says an understanding employer and supportive team are key to her success. “If I have a problem or my daughter is sick, my team is the best. They’re like my second family.”

Alvarez believes the recent spotlight on women in the kitchen is a historic turning point that will give other women the confidence to embark on a culinary career. “I’ve been lucky to work with lots of female chefs. I’ve always found it creates a kind of recognition, a sense that ‘I can do it, too’. Sometimes you just need to see someone to emulate to give you that extra push.”