The Seven Sins of Jon Wise |
Owner of The Laughing Gravy |
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Jon gained experience in the Manchester dining scene working as General Manager for numerous leading restaurants.
After leaving the culinary world he trained as a journalist and worked in the national press for more than 15 years, mainly as a prominent TV critic.
He always held a strong passion for food and drink and when his local restaurant, The Laughing Gravy, closed he saw an opportunity to pursue his dream of opening his own venue.
Despite London and the UK experiencing a recession, and everyone advising not to open during this period, Jon was confident he had a winning formula and was determined to make the restaurant a success despite the economic downturn.
He renovated the restaurant on a shoestring and worked in a variety of roles in the early days to turn The Laughing Gravy into the busy restaurant it is today. |
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| Wrath - What makes you angry about the hospitality industry?
It makes me angry that not enough people see front of house hospitality as a career path. There is a great earning potential, career development and real job satisfaction. It is a very skilled job.
Greed - If all your food fantasies came true what would be on your Plate?
That depends what mood I'm in - on a healthy day it would be an amazing healthy salad, beautifully cooked fresh fish, a stunning, flavour-packed dressing and a side of sushi and I'd be in bliss.
But in other days we are talking a rich piece of aged meat with cheesy potatoes and thick sticky gravy.
Sloth - What do you do to unwind?
Unwind? What's that? I go to the gym and run a lot to let off steam. That and going to one of my favourite restaurants and enjoying a good meal with some stunning wine.
Pride - What are you most proud of?
I've had a lot of highlights so far - being made TV critic on a national newspaper was certainly a high.
But I would definitely say it is The Laughing Gravy that makes me most proud. Rescuing my favourite local restaurant and working my backside off for years to nurture it back to life. Walking in and seeing the restaurant full of happy diners makes me feel proud every time - and also makes me determined to continue to work hard and push the restaurant forward.
Lust - Is there anything that you are still lusting to achieve?
Always. I don't think it's healthy to become complacent. I'm always lusting to achieve greater things for The Gravy and get my team the recognition they deserve for all their amazing hard work.
Beyond that I want to expand on The Laughing Gravy - a very expensive exercise given London's soaring rent prices and squeezes on small independent businesses.
Envy - who are you most envious of?
Fred from First Dates for having a better beard than me?
There's no one I'm envious of to be honest. I look at people like Jason Aherton and admire the amazing work he has done and all he has achieved. But it's always admiration rather than envy.
Gluttony - have you ever over indulged?
Constantly. When you work doing what you love it's hard not to. I never thought this was possible but on a recent wine-researching trip to South Africa for the restaurant I actually over indulged in wine... I got over it a week later though so it's all good.
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| 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. |
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