Words by Katie Pettigrew
“There wasn’t a defining moment. When I finished high school, I didn’t know what I was going to do. I knew how to cook, so I went and did a cooking course at Taranaki Polytech and then after that, I got a kitchen job.”
Blair Clement’s exciting career kickstarted as a dishy for local business owner Craig Macfarlane at Macfarlane’s in Inglewood, where he worked for three years. He shifted around a bit after that, even having a stint in Aussie as a labourer for a couple of years.
Moving back to NZ, Blair linked back up with Craig to open Joe’s Garage in Wellington, and in 2014 began the success that has been Social Kitchen.
Today, Blair is an owner, the head chef and mastermind behind the menu of the charming and well-loved bistro in central New Plymouth. He has a team of eight and says there’s no secret behind the magic, it’s a well-executed team that hold high values and puts a lot of time into research.
“Our inspiration comes from what’s going on overseas. I do a lot of research on Scandinavia because I think that’s where a lot of food trends originate, and there’s also a couple of restaurants in Melbourne that influence us.”
Despite being a professional who loves being busy in the kitchen, you won’t find him cooking at home. He loves simple food - a meat and three veg kind of meal will serve him just fine. “I like things basic and plain, before I was married my favourite dish at home was baked beans on toast. “
Blair’s first memory of cooking was when he was around the age of 14, a soup that (despite his Mum’s protests of it being delicious) was, in Blair’s words, “absolutely disgusting.”
He’s come a long way since then, leading the team to being recognised as one of the best restaurants in the country in 2017, but he hasn’t done it alone. Blair gives a lot of credit to his business partner and friend Craig, who Blair says taught him a lot about what goes into running a successful restaurant where both customers and staff are happy.
He’s not a cliché, red-faced and raged in the kitchen, Blair’s a chill guy whose passion lies with passing on what he’s learnt, the whole bag of tricks, to his team. He loves watching cooking shows and spending time with friends but above all nothing beats a family day at home with his wife, Jackqui and their three daughters.
Blair’s a hardworking, perfectionist who doesn’t sweat the small stuff.
Head into Social Kitchen we’ve heard the slow-cooked lamb shoulder is a hit... chef’s recommendation!
