This time last Christmas I was working as a kitchen porter at Turl Street Kitchen. Head chef Carl Isham had kindly given me the opportunity to work the month of December and it was the first time that I’d been back in a professional kitchen in 30 years.

Eight-hour shifts of making bread, peeling 5kg bags of potatoes, sprouts and onions were the best possible ways to give myself a sanity check about taking on St Giles’ Café.

I remember most vividly the extraordinary teamwork that took place before and during service at lunch and dinner. Our brigade consisted of many different nationalities and some very different backgrounds yet there was a largely unspoken contract that we were all there to help each other to prepare and deliver the most exceptional food.

Fast forward 12 months to this Christmas and seven months after opening St Giles Café – and it’s the teamwork thing that I find most striking. We set out to create “earthy” homemade food that would be prepared every day from “dawn to dusk”. If it doesn’t have an exceptional taste, it’s not going to be served. And to do this day in, day out seven days a week has only been made possible by the commitment of our fantastic team of people from all walks of life.

First thing, every morning, every day, one of our prep chefs makes our bread and the day’s soup. Today, it’s spiced parsnip. It’s one of many of our soups that always gets a nod of real appreciation when you witness a customer take the first spoonful. And it’s a soup that will appear on our Christmas menu alongside turkey and roast vegetable terrine with cranberry chutney, braised Brussels sprouts with walnuts and lardons, our own Christmas pudding, almond Swiss roll with warm honey and crushed meringue among other festive delights.

It feels particularly special just now, since what we do feels like a family gathering at home for Christmas. It’s just that we do it every day of the year!

Best wishes for Christmas and the New Year.

Baz and everyone at St Giles’ Café.

TRY IT
St Giles’ Cafe,
52 St Giles’, Oxford
Call 01865 554200
Opening Hours: Mon/Tues/Wed 8.30am-5pm Thurs/Fri/Sat 8.30am-9pm Sun 8.30am-4.30pm