Chefs
Meet the award winning and local chefs bringing Salcombe Crabfest to life with live cookery demos and mouth-watering dishes you won’t want to miss!
Matt Tebbutt
Chef & TV Presenter
Matt, known for BBC1’s Saturday Kitchen and Channel 4’s Food Unwrapped, specialises in simple, hearty, seasonal dishes. With Michelin-star training and years running acclaimed pubs, his demos are inspiring, fun, and full of laughter.
Freddy Bird
Head Chef & Owner, littlefrench & 1 York Place
Freddy’s fire-cooked, Mediterranean-inspired cuisine is unpretentious, flavour-packed, and full of personality. Returning to Crabfest, he promises engaging and mouth-watering demos.
Jane Baxter
Chef
In recent years Jane owned Wild Artichokes in Kingsbridge, voted Best Local Restaurant in the South West by The Good Food Guide. An acclaimed author, she creates sharing-style dishes that showcase the best of South Devon produce, drawing inspiration from global cuisines.
Mitch Tonks
Founder & CEO, Rockfish & The Seahorse
Mitch runs eight Rockfish restaurants in the South West and The Seahorse in Dartmouth, championing fresh, sustainable seafood. With over 25 years in the kitchen and seven cookbooks to his name, his demos are packed with flavour and expertise.
Ben Tonks
Head Chef, The Seahorse & The Cantina
Ben brings a lifelong love of seafood to his cooking, from his early days as a fishmonger to leading The Seahorse and Cantina. His demos focus on fresh, approachable seafood dishes with depth and skill.
Kirk Gosden
Group Head Chef, Rockfish
With a 40-year international career spanning Europe, the USA, and the Caribbean, Kirk is a master of seafood and sustainable cuisine. At Crabfest, he brings his global experience and technical expertise to every demo.
Meet the Chefs of Crabfest 2025
Our Chefs’ Demo Marquee is one of the highlights of Crabfest, featuring talented chefs showcasing their skills, creativity, and passion for seafood. Whether you’re a seasoned foodie or trying crab and seafood for the first time, the demos promise to inspire, entertain, and leave you hungry for more! Some dishes will even be auctioned to raise funds for Salcombe Crabfest charities.
Owen Morgan
Co-Founder & Director, 44 Group
Owen co-founded the 44 Group, known for modern Spanish cuisine across Wales and the South West. A true tapas enthusiast, he brings Mediterranean flair and pairs dishes with Spanish wine and sherry. Expect vibrant, flavour-packed creations inspired by his family’s culinary adventures in Spain.
David Menendez
Managing Director, Mevalco
David hails from northern Spain and founded Mevalco, one of the UK’s leading suppliers of Spanish ingredients. He supports artisan producers and coastal communities in Spain, bringing authentic flavours to Crabfest.
Tom Bunn
Chef & Festival Organiser
Tom has over 20 years’ experience specialising in seafood. He runs Crabfest’s Chefs’ Demo Tent, sourcing top-quality ingredients and connecting chefs with the best produce. Expect expert technique, insight, and plenty of fun.
Sam White
Executive Chef, Fortnum & Mason
Sam leads Fortnum & Mason’s restaurants, including 45 Jermyn St., The Wine Bar, and FIELD by Fortnum’s. His creativity and innovative approach turn each demo into a playful culinary experience.
Richard Bertinet
Baker, Chef and Author
Originally from Brittany, Richard is a baker, author and teacher renowned for his energetic, hands-on approach to dough. With award-winning books, television appearances and decades of experience, his demonstrations are as inspiring as they are accessible.
Valentine Warner
Chef, Food Writer and Broadcaster
Chef, food writer and broadcaster, Valentine is known for his deep connection to nature, travel and ingredients. From television series to remote culinary adventures, his cooking is instinctive, characterful and rooted in a love of the wild.
Masaki Sugisaki
Executive Chef at Dinings SW3
Masaki blends Japanese culinary heritage with European technique, shaped by his experience in leading kitchens in Japan and at Nobu. His cooking champions seasonality, sustainability and joyful hospitality, creating refined yet welcoming dishes.
Dorian Janmaat
Chef and Restaurateur
Chef and restaurateur Dorian Janmaat grew up between Cornwall and Spain, where his love of produce-led, Mediterranean cooking began. After training at the two-Michelin-starred Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons under Raymond Blanc OBE, he returned to Cornwall to open his first restaurant, Ardor, in St Ives.
Janey Syrett
Chef and Founder of Feast Kitchen Deli
Janey is a chef with over 20 years’ experience, known for her passion for fresh, sustainable seasonal food. After leading kitchens in Devon and Bristol, she founded Feast Kitchen Deli, creating vibrant menus, deli boxes and catering that celebrate local produce and wholesome flavours.
