Name: Ross Whitmill, 33, head chef, The Thatch, Thame In the beginning: I enjoyed cooking from a young age, but perhaps there was one person who really gave me the passion for cooking, and that was David Partridge from The French Partridge in Horton Village, Northampton, who I worked with when I was at college. His food really blew me away, as did his passion for what he did and his attention to detail.

Career: I have trained with some truly inspirational chefs, including Raymond Blanc at le Petit Blanc in Birmingham, and while working at restaurants in other countries like Australia, too. I have spent the last six years at Peach Pubs (owners of The Thatch) — I met co-founder Lee Cash while I was working for Raymond — first opening The Rose & Crown in Warwick, then The One Elm in Stratford-upon-Avon, before moving to The Swan near Milton Keynes and now The Thatch.

Signature dish: I have two! Chargrilled braised shoulder of lamb, roasted butternut squash, spinach and mint jus. Then, there is pan-fried sea bass with sautéed wild mushrooms, new potatoes and salsa verde. Favourite gadget: It would have to be a bar blitzer for blending up ingredients to make purées, a really handy little piece of kit. Or failing that, a good knife of course!

Inspiration: My inspiration was David Partridge, as I have said, but I also think that Marco Pierre White is a chef who has really changed the way we cook. The rugged way he turned food on its head — from not wearing a hat in the kitchen and donning a butcher's apron instead, to sticking his fingers in the food and just getting stuck in — he was really different.

Time off: I have a little boy so lots of my time is spent playing with and looking after him when I am not in the kitchen. I also really enjoy gardening, growing vegetables and tending to the garden, which is a really nice way to relax. And, of course, I like cooking for friends and family.

Cooking at home: In short — at home I cook anything and everything! From my son's dinner to Sunday roast for the family and pasta dishes during the week. I do most of the cooking at home — I guess I just can't keep out of the kitchen!