Meet Mike - our new Head Chef!

Head Chef Mike is creating quite a stir in the Tap!  Mike likes to let his food do the talking but we caught up with him to find out about his culinary inspirations……

Q: How long have you been at the Tap now?

A: I’ve been here a month and counting!

Q: What first attracted you to the Tap here in Tongham?

A: I’m a local boy so I’ve known about the Hogs Back Brewery for a long time.  It’s great to be part of the local community, and having freshly brewed beer on tap all the time, as well as Surrey Hills Butchers on the doorstep, opens up new possibilities.  I couldn’t ask for more!

Q: What is your favourite dish to cook?

A: Too many to choose from! But I enjoy cooking across a whole range of styles and cuisines.

Q: Who would your dream dinner party guests be?

A: That’s easy – I would invite my two sons and cook whatever they wanted!

Q: Where did your interest in food start?

A: I’ve been working for 20 years in and around food, starting in the kitchens, before moving into event catering 10 years ago.  I’ve catered for everything from weddings to Air Shows!

Q: What are you most looking forward to at the Tap?

A: I’m really excited by the idea of bringing the range of Hogs Back beers into my menus.  The beers taste great on their own, but they can really add depth and character to a dish, elevating it to something special.  I’ve already started with the new Tap Specials, which include a Hogstar Chicken Burger, Tongham TEA marinaded pickles which are served with the Spicy Chicken Naan and a Hog IPA, bacon and chilli chutney, which goes so well with the Bacon Cheese Burger. 

Q: We can’t let you go without asking about your favourite beer……

A: Hogstar, every time. You can’t beat it!

We can’t wait to follow Mike’s journey and taste his much-anticipated autumn menu, coming soon to the Brewery Tap. In the meantime, try this weekend’s specials!

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