Ricky has a wonderful background, a Venezuelan father that spent most of his life in Trinidad & Tobago, an Irish mother and he grew up in London’s Bethnal Green. Ricky’s father was a chef (and as a result the family always had “proper home cooked food” for their meals) but always advised his son against becoming a chef. After some gruelling training in London, Ricky, undeterred, worked under the Roux brothers and the Langan’s Brasserie, before moving north to set up his two successful restaurants in Whitehaven, Cumbria, where he employs some 60 members of staff. ‘Zest Harbourside’ is a funky bar café on the Harbour side, while ‘Zest Restaurant’ is a modern Cumbrian restaurant that serves local produce and was visited by Prime Minister Tony Blair in 2003.

Ricky’s media career includes appearing in ITV Border’s series ‘Raw Chefs.’ He was then awarded his own 6-part series called “A Taste for the Road” where he toured the local region on his beloved motorbike showcasing local produce. Ricky is also a regular contributor on BBC Radio Cumbria.

Since filming the series, Ricky has lost 3.5 stones and has gained a unique perspective on creating good but healthy food. He challenged himself as a chef to create great tasting food that is also kind on the waist and hips! Ricky has a real enthusiasm for exercise, which includes walking his dogs on the beach every morning, and now sports a huggable but healthy figure.

Most recently Ricky has been working on the Cumbria Rural Regeneration Scheme where he has been performing presentations to Head Teachers and School Chefs encouraging them to educate their pupils about health eating. Ricky is also considering proposals for teaching Adult Education Classes and the possibility of opening his own cooking school in the Cumbria area.

Ricky has published his own short recipe book which sold out in weeks and is due to be reprinted soon. Ricky is constantly cooking up new ideas for the kitchen and the studio, so one to watch. For further information about this bubbly and entertaining character.