The Seven Sins of John Qiilter |
Entrepreneur |
|
John Quilter, aka the Food Busker, is an entrepreneur, broadcaster and chef. Not content with launching an award-winning coffee company, starring in the primetime TV series Food Junkies and having his own channel on Jamie Oliver’s Food Tube network, JQ now also writes a monthly street food column for Time Out London.
In another life, John ran businesses for Raymond Blanc and Sir Terence Conran as well as operating his own Michelin-listed brasserie; Marmalade. He has also consulted for some of the most prestigious London institutions, including The Ivy, Le Caprice and Soho House.
One of John’s great passions is the synergy between music and food: leading him to work on various music festivals, including Womad, Bestival and OnBlackheath to name a few. Whether it’s filming a recipe with the headline act, presenting on the food stages or designing a one-of-a-kind festival supperclub, JQ is always in the thick of the action. Taking this one step further, John is curating a unique 4-month mini-festival on London’s Southbank this summer, The London Riviera, which brings together the best street food stalls, coffee and music on one of London’s most iconic landmarks. |
|
|
| When John isn’t in front of a camera, writing recipes or curating festivals, he is committed to building and developing new coffee business CRU Kafe, with his friends and co-founders Colin Pyle and Bodil Blain. The business, which provides organic, fair trade specialty coffee in a Nespresso compatible pod, has launched to rave reviews (including The Sunday Times voting it the best coffee in a pod). Be sure to ask him for a sample. |
|
|
| Wrath - What makes you angry about the hospitality industry?
I hate big breweries, the way they flog us mass produced beers and frozen food. The craft beer movement is electrifying the brewing community but if your local is a brewery owned tied house then you might as well be back in the dark ages. What a joke, what happened to giving your customers what they want?
Greed - If all your food fantasies came true what would be on your Plate?
To be really honest to me the best food in the world is simple, classic cuisine. Give me a killer Malbec and an old school ragu and I get lost in the experience.
Sloth - What do you do to unwind?
Social media is a big part of both my business's so I find it necessary to unplug at the weekend. I make a habit of leaving my phone at home on Sundays. I love to go for a walk along the Thames or hang out with Mrs Food Busker on Hampstead Heath. The simple pleasure of grabbing a killer coffee and people watching tick my box every time.
Pride - What are you most proud of?
I have two brands, CRU Kafe and Food Busker, they are like my children. One satisfies the entrepreneur in me and the other the performer. I love what they do and the people that work in and on them. I'm very blessed.
Lust - Is there anything that you are still lusting to achieve?
There’s so, so, so much more to do. My latest itch that’s getting scratched is my first book, expect to see my Food Busker book next year. Also more work supporting Jamie Oliver and his various campaigns to get us eating healthy food, he's such an inspiration.
Envy - who are you most envious of?
My business partner, Colin Pyle. He's the brightest, sharpest guy I know.
Gluttony - have you ever over indulged?
Of course, in everything. You can’t be in the hospitality industry and not have over done it. The first restaurant I ran in my 20's, was in Manchester and it was like a rave. We just traded and partied.
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
| We put the spotlight on the industry's most recognisable faces in our new interview segment "Seven Sins". If you want to know what inspires the industry's movers and shakers or what your favourite food loving celebrity likes to indulge in then you'll find it in their Seven Sins. |
|
|
|
