Michelin trained chef furloughed from job launches takeaway service in Llandudno

Nick Rudge, a junior sous chef at Heston Blumenthal’s The Fat Duck in Berkshire, has moved back to his home town of Llandudno and back in with his parents after Covid halted his work.

Now the former Llandrillo College student has launched a takeaway service - The Jackdaw At Home.

This is for the LL30 area but people living outside the postcode can still arrange collection or pay a small fee for delivery.

Nick, a former pupil at Ysgol San Sior and Ysgol Bryn Elian, said: ​I returned to Llandudno just before the English and Welsh Lockdowns commenced luckily.

"The idea to do a takeaway/delivery service business came when I realised that so many people really do miss eating out.

"I’m sure everybody would like a break from cooking one night of the week and likes to treat themselves to a takeaway, so why not set up a sort of gourmet dining experience but in the comfort of your own home, with most of the hard work and pot washing done and just a bit of heating and cooking required.”

Welsh beef fillet wellington

Nick has worked at The Fat Duck in Berkshire for seven years. The restaurant gained its first Michelin star in 1999, its second in 2002 and its third in 2004.

"I started there in April 2014 and I'm still working there now, however I'm on furlough," Nick said.

"Communication from the kitchen team with Heston is crucial.

"The Fat Duck was always the restaurant I dreamed and wanted to work at, having been a huge fan of Heston for years.

"Every day there is something new to be learnt."

Nick confirmed there is "quite a lot" of preparation involved in his new takeaway service.

"It is not just the food, but the small things such as the packaging, making of the stickers and instructions and also organising bookings, which my brother Dan has very kindly jumped and taken the reigns of," he explained.

Heston Blumenthal owns four restaurants. Picture: PA

"The reason for me starting this is mainly to keep everybody happy and with a little something to look forward to during lockdown, but also one day I would love to start my own business, right here in North Wales.

"I am doing all of the food preparation in my home and have had to turn my home kitchen almost into a commercial kitchen, with the hygiene and safety measures taken very seriously."

Nick is currently in the process of making a new menu and is accepting booking for the start of March (although this is subject to change depending on restrictions).

All orders require heating at home.

Nick added: "At the moment we have a three course meal for two people for £40. We were planning to give a complementary bottle of wine with each order, however we have been told by the council we are not allowed to do so, due to lack of a licence.

"On the menu for the next few weeks we have a choice of starters, mains and desserts, some of which being a chicken liver parfait with toasted brioche and berry compote and Welsh Beef Fillet Wellington with mash potato and tender stem broccoli.

"The service will be delivered, however if people live outside the LL30, then can pickup or pay a small fee for delivery outside the LL30.

"I have the correct hygiene, health and safety and food safety certificates and I am doing the cooking alone for the time being."

Email Jackdawconwy@hotmail.com or visit ‘the Jackdaw At Home’ on Facebook.