Teji Kimena
OUR GOODMAN FAMILY
Meet Teji, our Head chef
at Goodman Canary Wharf
TJ is the Head Chef at Goodman Canary and has been part of the Goodman Family for around nine years. He likes gospel, chilling with his family, the Goodman prawns – “always, every time, you have to” - and would love a Malbec with his steak please – “UK rib eye, on the bone, ideally Blue Grey, with all the sides, but particularly the mac and cheese and creamed spinach.” He supports Manchester United - “the best team in the world... Well, sometimes” – and thus really doesn’t want to talk about “the machine” that is Erling Haaland...
"I studied hospitality and catering, and worked at Chapter Two, a fine dining restaurant for four years. Then I moved to Chapter One a Michelin-starred restaurant, for two years. Then I came to join the Goodman crew.
I started at Canary Wharf, as commis chef. I wanted to start from the beginning, despite my background, and work my way up. I moved to Maddox for a few years and then came back to Canary Wharf as head chef last April.
“I try to get my junior chefs involved, to come up with ideas and I can help them develop those. Sometimes we put them on the menu. That’s the way I learned and I want to bring my team up, encourage them”
Obviously all the Goodmans have basically the same menu, but things like the Fish of the Day, we can experiment and try things, develop the menu together. I try to get my junior chefs involved, to come up with ideas and I can help them develop those. Sometimes we put them on the menu. That’s the way I learned and I want to bring my team up, encourage them.”
Credits
Interview by Neil Davey
Photography by Tom Bowles