Chef Watch, Featuring Tom Tsappis of Killiecrankie House

Chef Watch

Tom Tsappis

Chef and Co-owner Killiecrankie House, Killiecrankie

 How long have you been a chef?

Coming up for 7 years

Why did you become a chef?

I like to eat and one begets the other

Favourite ingredient

If I could eat only one carb/protein/vegetable for the rest of my life it would be rice, eggs and aubergine, so probably one of them

Favourite or signature dish

Dripping fried porridge

Favourite kitchen tool or equipment (apart from sharp knives)

Rubber spatula

Food hero(es)

Andoni Luis Aduriz of Murgaritz (2 Michelin star restaurant in Errentaria, Spain)

Any food you can’t/won’t eat

No foods I can’t eat, can’t think of any I won’t eat off the top of my head – although I’ll avoid shepherd’s pie if I can

Comfort food/guilty secret

Trifle and Champagne

If I’m going out to eat, and I can’t get a table at your place, where should I go?

The Araki (a sushi restaurant in Mayfair)

Stupidest customer or kitchen experience

Every day is an adventure

 

Tom is the chef owner of Killiecrankie House in Perthshire, which opened in October 2021 and was awarded its first Michelin star in 2026. It is the first and only restaurant he has worked in after changing careers in his early 30s. Both he and the restaurant have received numerous awards since opening and have been praised widely by publications such as the FT, New York Times, Conde Nast, The Scotsman and The Times

(Pah! Never mind that. They got a 24/25 from Tom Eats! and that doesn’t happen every week)