Head Executive Chef Steven Walpole

In January 2008, Gate Gourmet UK & Ireland was fortunate to add Steven Walpole, a budding talent on the celebrity chef scene, as its Senior Executive Chef. In this role, Chef Steven is primarily responsible for the British Airways relationship, as well as menu design and development, cost control, sourcing of suppliers and training for area chefs.

Chef Steven has brought his flair, passion and commitment to healthy eating to British Airways’ First Class and Club World business class menus. He works with a group of talented Gate Gourmet menu design chefs to deliver innovation and culinary excellence to other major customers, as well.

A familiar face on BBC UK Food and Discovery Health, Chef Steven also has assisted on BBC Saturday Kitchen and has cooked at prestigious venues including Browns Hotel, The Lanesborough, The Waterside Restaurant at Bray, The House of Commons and Lloyd's of London. He taught a group of disadvantaged young people for Chef Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen restaurant, regularly lectures on childhood obesity, runs workshops on healthy eating for children and is consultant chef to the charity HOPE.

Essex born Chef Steven has been passionate about cooking since he started a Saturday job in a restaurant at the age of 15. A whole host of college qualifications, diplomas and awards followed in rapid succession, and in 2000 Steven was the highest performing candidate in the Kitchen category at the Academy of Culinary Arts Awards. In 2003, he placed second at the grand finale in one of the most prestigious competitions on the culinary circuit - the Roux Scholarship Finals, making him the youngest-ever lecturer to do so. A recipient of many other culinary awards, including Toque d’Or and Nestle Grand Prix Masterclass, Chef Steven won the 2007 Quality Food Award in the Bread Category. He is considered to be one of the finest young chefs in the country.

When not creating and preparing food, Chef Steven spends time with his other love: a fabulous motorbike. He was able to combine the two passions recently, when he was invited by an insurance company to design menus promoting healthy eating to motorbike riders – quite a challenge!

Looking good is equally as important, and Steven regularly trains in a gym. His other interests include extreme sports, and he recently participated in a parachute jump for charity – an experience he can’t wait to repeat!