Teejay Asciak & The Farmhouse Essex

Food has always been a huge part of The Farmhouse Essex’s chef-patron’s life. His great aunt owned several successful restaurants and her stories provided early inspiration, in addition to Teejay’s Nonna who also fostered an adventurous palate – serving up everything from offal to exotic spiced dishes and bringing out the best in all of it.

By his early 20s, Teejay decided it was time to turn an interest into a career, training as a chef at the revered Westminster Kingsway College before being snared by Jamie Oliver as a hot talent.

Roles with Oliver as both a sous chef and new openings chef rapidly earned Teejay his industry stripes, and he moved into the world of corporate catering – and onto the water – working with Fabulous Feasts, a company based on the Silver Sturgeon boat on the Thames.

THE FARMHOUSE ESSEX

Like his cooking style, Teejay has kept the name of his debut venue simple. The Essex Farmhouse comprises a cafe and deli, serving up modern British food, a rustic warehouse vibe, and a chilled atmosphere.

With its crowd-pleasing menu, sharing feasts and Sunday roasts, and a shop filled with local specialities, The Farmhouse Restaurant Essex offers something for everyone – and, as a family-run enterprise, Teejay’s insistent that everyone in the family is welcome.

And there’s more in store for The Essex Farmhouse. It’ll also function as a platform for celebrating local produce and talent; putting on themed pop-up events, hosting food fairs, and putting this part of Essex firmly on the culinary map.