Chefs & Experts

Local heroes, hunter-gatherers, chefs, gardeners, farmers, herbalists, foragers, bakers, butchers, authors, cooks, designers.

Daryll Taylor

House Chef

Culinary Director and Head Chef- Thyme Food School

Named as one of Sydney's 'most visionary young talents' when he was working there, the passion for food hit English-born Daryll Taylor at the very young age of 3, when he started cooking with his Great-Grandma. No surprise then that he had his own vegetable and fruit garden by the age of 6.

Sebastian Snow

House Chef

Sebastian Snow, Head Chef - The Swan at Southrop

The Swan, part of the Southrop Manor Estate and the Good Food Guide's 2010 UK Restaurant of the Year, is run by the immensely talented Sebastian and his wife Lana. Enthusiastic about the fantastic produce on his doorstep including the vegetables grown and supplied by Southrop Manors Italian Head Gardener and forager, Claudio Bincoletto.

Marjorie Lang

House Chef

House Chef – Marjorie Lang BBC TV Masterchef Winner. Marj is a passionate, self taught cook who works alongside Daryll to create and teach all of our cookery programmes. Marj has lived and worked in Tokyo, London and Bath as a food writer and teacher.

Claudio Bincoletto

Chef, Ethno-botanist, Forager

Claudio Bincoletto is an Italian chef, ethnobotanist and expert on wild food. Originally from Fossolta di Piave near Venice, Claudio began collecting herbs for local herbalists and restaurants as a child.

While he later trained as a chef, it was during Claudio’s National Service with the Italian Army that he was selected for special training as forager so that he could feed the troops in whatever terrain they found themselves. Following his return to civilian life, Claudio studied agronomy, with a particular interest in biodynamic farming methods, an interest that he continues to apply in the ongoing management of the small herb farm which he continues to run with his mother and sister near Venice and in the work that he does for organisations such as Diversity for Life (http://diversityforlife.org/category/artists-and-chefs). Whatever the season and wherever he is, Claudio will always able to find something to eat and share with others.

James 'Bob' Parkinson

Guest Chef

Chef/patron, ‘Made by Bob’, Cirencester, Gloucestershire. Bob was previously head chef at The Swan at Southrop, and has also worked in London at Sir Terence Conran’s famous Bibendum restaurant under Simon Hopkinson and at Nahm with Australian chef and internationally recognised Thai food master, David Thompson (who describes Bob as “a fantastic chef”).

José Pizarro

Guest Chef

Sometimes know as 'the father of Spanish cooking in the UK', José Pizarro has lived in this country for 11 years and in that time has worked at some of London’s most prestigious Spanish restaurants including Eyre Brothers and Gaudi. Latterly he has been the head chef and co-owner of the critically acclaimed Brindisa Tapas Kitchens in London, which have all received rave review since opening. José has now left Brindisa to pursue his own career.

Bunny Guinness

Garden Designer

Bunny Guinness is a passionate and active gardener, designer, landscape architect and author. As one of this country’s leading designers, she has been a regular Radio 4 Gardeners’ Question Time Panellist for eleven years and writes a weekly column for the Sunday Telegraph.

Sarah Ryley

Guest Chef

Sarah Ryley is one of Thyme’s ‘ones to watch’. A self-taught chef and cookery teacher who creates totally fresh cuisine, Sarah brings together the sentiment and all the finest flavours of home made food. Original and sophisticated menus are interpreted into generous and delicious dishes with bold rustic appeal.

James Graham

Guest Chef

James is Chef/patron from Allium restaurant, Fairford, Gloucestershire, which he runs with his wife Erica. Their Gloucestershire hot spot has won numerous awards, including the Good Food Guide SW Restaurant of the Year 2008 and most recently, Cotswold Life Chef of the Year.