Leadership Recipes

Chris Rennoldson: Lancashire hotpot


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Chris Rennoldson's journey to founding Pasta Evangelists was anything but linear: 

from chemical engineering to the London Stock Exchange during its most dramatic takeover battles, to professional cookery school at Leiths. Each turn shaped how he thinks about leadership, teamwork and elevating the ordinary into something special.

Now leading 400 people across 50 restaurants, Chris shares what Clara Furse taught him about unwavering conviction during NASDAQ's hostile bid. 

We explore his transition from left-brain analyst to creative chef, why being present matters more than anything else as a senior leader, and how he navigates cross-cultural relationships with Italian shareholders.

His chosen dish is Lancashire hot pot, a humble casserole that reflects his philosophy of taking the apparently ordinary and making efforts to elevate it through technique and care.

He also shares a secret quick pasta recipe that celebrates exactly that.

 

Bon Appétit!

 

“Take the apparently ordinary and really make efforts to elevate it.” – Chris Rennoldson

 

You’ll hear about:

  • From chemical engineering to refusing the oil refinery
  • Clara Furse's leadership during NASDAQ's hostile bid
  • When food becomes your work and your passion
  • Managing 400 employees and learning leadership presence
  • Why Lancashire hot pot matters to Chris
  • Elevating a humble dish by building flavour layers and focusing on presentation
  • Chris’ quick pasta recipe with no tomato in sight
  • What restaurant kitchens teach about leadership teamwork
  • Episode resources:

    Sfoglia Rina (Valentine’s pasta tip) -  https://www.sfogliarina.it/en/cooking/

    Harold McGee's Book on Food Science - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Food-Cooking-Science-Lore-Kitchen/dp/0684800012 

    Leiths School of Food and Wine - https://www.leiths.com 

     

    Find out more about Chris:

    LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/crennoldson/?originalSubdomain=uk 

    Pasta Evangelists - https://pastaevangelists.com/ 

     

    Contact François & Valentine:

    LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/francoismoscovici/

    Valentine’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valentine-moscovici/ 

     

    François’ Instagram food feed:

    @moscoffier 

     

    Produced by Between Tracks - https://www.betweentracks.com/ 

     

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    Leadership RecipesBy François Moscovici