James Lowe #4Real
#4RealFriday is where I ask 5 Questions to some damn real, damn awesome pals who are living and doing dope stuff 4REAL!
They've inspired me or been a support in some way and I wanna share them with you.
JAMES LOWE
WHAT COFFEE DO YOU DRINK?
Whatever Beans and Stevo are pouring [at the restaurant]. I like to see how coffee changes seasonally and also from various roasters, it’s fascinating how many variables there are in something that is generally considered a pretty simple thing.
WHAT WORK DO YOU DO?
I’m a chef. I cook and I run a restaurant. I try and make nice food for people and look after them while they’re here.
COOLEST ACHIEVEMENT?
Opening my restaurant, Lyle’s. I have always loved restaurants and I started cooking because I thought it would be the best way to be successful when I would, one day, open my own.
BIGGEST CHALLENGE?
Balancing the restaurant with everything else. When you put everything in to your work it can be very hard for those close to you.
BEST ADVICE?
Treat people as you would like to be treated and never buy cheap anchovies.
I met James a while ago. A mutual friend of ours connected us up because he was interested in chatting about coffee ideas for his upcoming restaurant Lyle's. I must have been under a rock, because I didn’t really know who he was at the time…Doh! Ex head chef at St John Bread & Wine and was also behind the successful chef collective the Young Turks, with a pop-up restaurant at the Ten Bells in Shoreditch in 2011.
We spoke for hours about his plans for his restaurant, down to why we liked specific designs and types of crockery and of course, we spoke a lot about coffee – philosophies and the rest. It was a bit nerdy at times, and we didn’t agree on everything, but it was great because we became friends. I was super energised and inspired by our conversation that day because it was just so great to meet someone who was so into what he was doing and DOING IT #4Real.
I’ve enjoyed our chats and his support of my projects too since we've known each other.
He is living his dream. I’m sure running a restaurant or kitchen is not always easy, let alone having the pressures of being an owner and director. But he is always poised and he works damn hard! That’s for sure.
He’s honest about the realities of running a business and I like that. He has high standards and expectations and remains passionate and focused because believes in his what he does. The results are in his beautiful light filled restaurant and in his simple yet intricate dishes. Behind those steely blue eyes something’s cooking, I can smell it. Maybe it’s just the smell of a new tasty dish or perhaps of more dreams hatching?!
Some days you'll see me perched at the bar with an espresso and having a cheeky salted ginger loaf (I’m addicted to it). They also get a variety of coffee brands from outside the UK too, so it’s a great place to try different roasters.
Dinners at Lyle's (named after his mum's maiden name) is super dope, so check it out. #4Real
