Culinary Excellence Redefined by Chef James

I’m James Ford, a professional chef and consultant specialising in:

Food innovation & menu development
Recipe creation, testing, and standardisation across multiple sites
Food safety & quality control procedures
Kitchen efficiency protocols
Food cost management

Chef James Ford
Executive Chef & Culinary Consultant

With over 20 years of global culinary leadership, Chef James has created exceptional dining experiences and built strong teams in renowned kitchens across the UK and India.

Work With Me – Because Excellence Deserves Structure.”

Over 20 years in the industry, I’ve worked my way from Commis chef to Head Chef and to Executive Head Chef in some of the UK’s top-rated restaurants, including STK Steakhouse, Farmacy Kitchen, and Brasserie Blanc. San Carlo, Lima, Lantana Cafe.
Alongside leading high-volume hotel and fine dining kitchens, I’ve owned and operated my own restaurants, hotels, a golf club, a café, and most recently, opened bakery & patisserie in London.

My experience spans every corner of hospitality — from launching new concepts and building award-winning teams, to managing 600+ covers a day while maintaining consistency and excellence. I specialize in menu innovation, operational control, and staff development, and I bring hands-on knowledge of food industry software (Procure Wizard, Marketman, Excel rota systems, etc.) to streamline and future-proof operations.

Whether it’s elevating a single kitchen or building a hospitality brand from the ground up — I know how to turn vision into excellence.

I have the necessary skills to help with pre-openings, improving existing offers, supporting struggling businesses to meet financial targets, and assisting with menu procurement, design, and costings.

Culinary Consulting Fees!

Please feel free to get in touch and see if I can be of any help to you and your business. I offer a free, informal initial consultation, and my prices are bespoke to each client depending on budget, timescale, and the areas where you’d like support and advice