Get To Know The Team!
Likes – Long Lunches with friends or family, passionate people, fire pits, Leeds United!
Dislikes – Neon, cheap plates, hellman’s mayonnaise (the devil incarnated)
Death Row Dinner – Snacks from the Frog By Adam Handling (best pre-dinner snacks ever). My Spanish Grandma's Cured Meats to start with perello olives (the godfathers of olives). My Mum's lasagne for main course. Dessert has to be an Affogato. Amazing coffee and the best vanilla ice cream - always a good idea!
Favourite JGC Event - We turned the Emirates Cable Car into a restaurant for the evening to launch my cookbook. As the first people to ever do so we were obviously nervous, but it was so satisfying knowing that all the hard work was worth it when guests were blown away and a really proud moment with all of my friends, family, loyal followers and suppliers present
Jimmy Garcia - Founder and Creative Director
Likes – Rose in magnums (or any wine in magnums to be fair), friendly, proactive waiting staff, Norfolk
Dislikes - Bar staff in theatres or restaurants who take an interminable time to serve simple drinks, drizzle
Death Row Dinner - Heritage beetroot with goat’s curd and candied pecans, osso buco and risotto milanese. The Wolseley vanilla cheesecake
Favourite JGC Event - A wedding at Belvoir Castle in Lincolnshire. 300 guests with the reception and dinner in the castle. Our kitchen was in the salon, overlooked by a Holbein portrait and brunch was served besides the lake the next day
Richard Groves - Managing Director
Barry Wibling - Senior Sous Chef
Likes - French cheese, English wine!
Dislikes - Likes and dislikes lists - too much pressure to appear interesting!
Death Row Dinner - The entire menu at St John's Restaurant
Favourite JGC Event - Davos World Economic Forum
Kiera Green - Senior Operations Manager
Likes - Aperol spritz, mature cheddar, 80s music and Harry Potter
Dislikes - When I get a lemon served in my glass of coca cola
Death Row Dinner - Tangy cheese Doritos with mature cheddar melted on top and an onion and garlic dip – basic but the best!
Alex Lees - Executive Chef
Likes - Trying new restaurants. If you've got any recommendations let me know!
Dislikes - Fish
Death Row Dinner - Burrata to start with an assortment of tomatoes, basil pesto, grilled peaches, aubergine caponata, freshly sliced Jamon, fresh baguettes! Main - steak with homemade bearnaise, triple cooked chips, and a side of creamed spinach. Dessert - Gateau St Honore - puff pastry base with creme diplomat filled profiteroles dipped in crunchy caramel and finished with even more creme diplomat - heaven!
Favourite JGC Event - A joint 18th and 50th circus-themed birthday we arranged. It had a big top, helter-skelter, real lions and a hell of an entertainment line up! We catered for 400 with a menu that included gold glitter-covered potatoes (a special request from the client). The walk-in freezer power was turned off by security at night melting all the ice cream for the knickerbocker glories!! Sourcing 140 litres of ice cream and sorbet from around the Gloucestershire countryside became the challenge of the day, but we did it!
Abbie Crowther - Head Chef
Likes - Puppies, skiing, sweets, Florence and the machine
Dislikes - Hot drinks, horror films, being late
Death Row Dinner - Open with an aperol spritz. For starters, soft shell crab bao bun. Mains - a traditional Swiss fondue with lots of cornichons and charcuterie and for dessert, an ice cream buffet with ALL the toppings!
Favourite JGC Event - Cannes ILTM 2019
Hugo Penel-Page - Head Pastry Chef
Likes - Dark chocolate, lemon basil sorbet and of course a nice raclette. There’s many more I could list but they won’t be able to fit on this page!
Dislikes - This might offend a lot of people but fish and chips are overrated… I do eat everything else though
Death Row Dinner - My partners Carribean oxtail butter bean stew
Favourite JGC Event – The showcase event we did at Banqueting House. Incredible
Valeria Carboni - Senior Sales Manager
Likes - Holidays by the beach. Actually, holidays in general!
Dislikes - Flying, even though I travel a lot!
Death Row Dinner - Pizza and tiramisu, like a true Italian *insert hand gesture here*!!
Favourite JGC Event – A corporate party where our chefs cooked on an open fire with the stunning background of the Tower of London
Annie Griffin - Senior Operations Manager
Likes - Spin classes, surfing, wine, being on a boat somewhere hot!
Dislikes - Jam, being stuck in traffic, being late
Death Row Dinner - Tapas – so I can have a little bit of everything!
Favourite JGC Event - 3 day wedding we did in the Scottish Highlands. Food Stations, 5 course dinner, ceremony up a mountain and the marquee being transformed overnight from Jazz nightclub to all white wedding dream. Was definitely one to remember!
Cam Lees - Warehouse Manager
Likes - Rugby, skiing, cornish beaches, dogs
Dislikes - Coffee, tea, wine, cheating in sports and over the top theatrical people!
Death Row Dinner - Skip starter! Main - a quality burger - brioche bun, juicy meat, bacon, cheese, sticky onion relish, sweet potato fries, pudding - sticky toffee pudding with vanilla icecream, wash it all down with an Oreo milkshake!!
Favourite JGC Event – On the rare occasions they let me out of the warehouse I enjoy all our events! Seeing all the planning and work put in executed to the highest of levels is a joy to see. Shout out to the whole office team and the chefs who always deliver!!
Lauren Boatman - Head of Sales
Likes - Hanging out with Romeo (my cat) and partner. Portugal, Al Garve. Climbing Trees
Dislikes - Bad smells, when tech doesn’t work, anything apple/mac
Death Row Dinner - Chocolate with a side of chocolate and topped off with some more chocolate. Finished with espresso martini
James Green - Senior Sales Manager
Likes - Love my coffee machine! Eating, drinking at The NoMad (a Sergeant Pepper), any pastry from the Connaught patisserie or the art space at Claridge’s
Dislikes - Creased, unsteamed linen. Square cloths on round tables
Death Row Dinner - Hoppers Marylebone: Mutton Rolls + SL Hot Sauce, Lamb Kari, Rice & Two Roti. Oh and a Crème London White Chocolate and Miso Cookie.
Favourite JGC Event - Canva Design & Dine at the Design Museum.
Chris Iwondo - pastry sous chef
Likes - Good food really, a big fan of meat and desserts. Fish and vegetables are also welcome, but throw me a nice meat or fish dish and we’ll get on
Dislikes - I’m not allergic to these ones but we just don’t get on mushrooms and funny sea creatures such as oysters, octopus, squids, lobsters etc
Death Row Dinner - Bavette steak with garlic and herb sauce, buttered baby potatoes and grilled baby plum tomatoes and yes this is a real deal
Favourite JGC Event - Quad 2023, Epic
Vali Mocanu - Accounts Manager
Likes - Dark chocolate, coffee, to meditate, neuroscience and the list continues…
Dislikes - People who over promise and under deliver
Death Row Dinner - My mum's food (sarmale cu mamaliga) - minced meat with rice wrapped in sauerkraut served with polenta; brownies, coffee cakes
Lili Daw - Social Media Manager
Likes - Very good food, Sea swims, running, skiing on a sunny day with plenty of snow, a pint of Guinness and pack of pork scratchings in the perfect countryside pub next to a fire.
Dislikes - people who walk slowly in London, staying in a city too long, being let down by a bad meal that was supposed to be very good
Death Row Dinner - Starter: Prawn Pil Pil with the perfect garlicky, buttery, oily sauce and a hint of spice. Served with a side of crusty bread and one Oyster with shallot vinegar and dash of Tabasco. Main: Fresh white fish served with plenty of lemon, with a side of greek salad, and home cooked chips with plenty of salt and Tzatziki to dip (ideally sat in a Greek taverna next to the sea?) Dessert: The perfect Tiramisu.
Chase Edwards - Operations Manager
Likes - Positive intent, meditation, career progression, strong wit, spicy food (scotch bonnet preferably)
Dislikes - When lime is an element of a drink and the bartender just drops one measly lime wedge in the drink with no squeeze, no love, and no actual lime flavour added!
Death Row Dinner - The 'Beach Bar Club' from Umbrellas on Grand Anse Beach in Grenada with a side of Island Jab wings, and an ice cold Carib beer (from the bottle, no glass) ideally around 5pm as the sun sets into the sea, my favourite people with me, bliss.
Favourite JGC Event - the World Economic Forum 2024
Cara Ching - Head of Weddings and Private Events
Likes - Yoga, Greece, picantes, the outdoors, Nyetimber, cosy countryside pubs, sailing
Dislikes - Wooden ice lolly sticks, lateness, spiders, public speaking, chunky chips, Sunday drivers
Death Row Dinner - Burrata, pasta, tomahawk or beef wellington, lots of wine, skip dessert and have a cocktail
Simon Dornan - Sustainability Lead
Likes - Long hikes in the great outdoors, red wine, cheese, hanging out with my wife and grown up daughters, spotify
Dislikes - Rushing for anything, reality TV and little or no alcohol free beer selections in bars (it's the 21st century for god's sake, and there's so many good ones!)
Death Row Dinner - An Old fashioned to open, A baked camembert with french bread starter, a burger that will have to be topped with some brisket, blue cheese and black pudding, something chocolate and caramel loaded for dessert and another old-fashioned to finish - it's not a time to be dieting...
Favourite JGC Event - In 2013 I enjoyed the most perfect team Xmas lunch at one of Jimmy's first popups in the basement of a wine shop in Clapham. It was a beautiful mix of brilliant people and amazing food ( that incredible smoked mac and cheese featured!) and no-one wanted it to end. Now I find myself working at Jimmy's and I still love the excitement that comes with the opening of our popups in particular.
Ellie Hickey - Marketing Executive
Likes - Hanging out with my pet rabbit, my hometown in the countryside, animals, chocolate, and the sun.
Dislikes - Cheese in a burger/cheese sandwiches/cheesy pasta (but I love cheese toasties/pizza/lasagne/cheese on its own… make it make sense).
Death Row Dinner - Starter: Beefy Boys burger and Bacon Fries. Main: My mum’s roast dinner - with unlimited pigs in blankets. Dessert: A bowl of melted Galaxy chocolate and a spoon.
Jo Campbell - Head of Marketing
Likes - Champagne, black coffee, sleep, mushrooms and salted caramel
Dislikes - Salmon, cold chips, beans in a ramekin, a roast dinner without cauliflower cheese and yorkshires
Death Row Dinner - Garlic Mushrooms to start, Steak Bearnaise, with thick cut chips and creamed spinach and for pud - Sticky toffee pudding and custard.
Favourite JGC event - Sky Arts at the Roundhouse was really cool and creative
Victoria Kabiawu - Sales and Operations Manager
Likes - I love spending time with my church family from Sundays to mid-week service. It is honestly a blast of a time. And going for brunch with my friends. (And a bible study brunch now that's a good time)
Dislikes - Public transport, it can be so draining. Being ill makes me uncomfortable. Ads on youtube
Death Row Dinner - A combination of Korean BBQ, with Nigerian food. (Bulgogi, Pork belly, tteokbokki, jollof, smoked turkey, fried fish, meat pie, puff puff, Yam and egg, just a few to name)
Favourite JGC Event - Sky Awards the creative design was amazing, and being able to make artwork that was used as canape dec was such an honour
Holly Westwaod-Hearn - Junior Sales Manager
Coming soon
Aaron Thwaites- Senior Sous Chef
Coming soon
Jake Smith - Operations Director
Coming soon
Jo Furber - Senior Sales and Event Manager
Likes - Coffee and walks with friends on the common, trying independent restaurants, travelling, but most importantly our office dogs!
Dislikes - People standing directly in front of the tube / train doors when your trying to get off!!
Death Row Dinner - Starter: Cheese and Charcuterie board
Main: Ivan Orkins Tonkotsu Ramen
Dessert: Our JGC Pastry Teams Tiramisu
Favourite JGC Event - I am fortunate to say I actually have to many to choose from! But two in particular to highlight are Creative Heads Most Wanted Awards 2024 and the first every Sky Arts Awards at Roundhouse.
Bailey Groves - Chief Happiness Officer
Likes - Cheese, viennoiserie, toast
Dislikes - Leaving a walk on Wimbledon Common too early, having my paws washed after a muddy walk
Death Row Dinner - To start, a croissant from The Lockdown Bakery in Wandsworth Old Town, then a nice crunchy bone treat with any hard English cheese to finish
Favourite JGC Event - Every time I come into the office is an event for me - I love that everyone wants to stroke me!
Tom Crowther - Sous Chef
Likes - Christmas, Glastonbury, Skiing, AFC Wimbledon
Dislikes - Diet Coke, a messy work station, ironing
Death Row Dinner - Starter - Chicken liver parfait, fig chutney, brioche toast
Main - Tonkotsu Ramen, preferably from Ivan Ramen NYC
Dessert - A classic lemon tart
Favourite JGC Event - In January 2023 we did a 3 day wedding in the Scottish highlands. The food and production was incredible. Specifically the Scottish seafood, sourced very close to the wedding venue itself.