Cheshire

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<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="768" height="1024" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2026/04/Pop-8-768x1024.jpg" alt="Joseph Rawlins La Popote" class="wp-image-8531" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2026/04/Pop-8-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2026/04/Pop-8-225x300.jpg 225w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2026/04/Pop-8-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2026/04/Pop-8-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2026/04/Pop-8-scaled.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure></div>


<p>Beyond the touristy trail in Cheshire (and very much one for those in the know),&nbsp;<a href="https://www.la-popote.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">La Popote</a>&nbsp;is quietly serving up some of the most exciting plates in the region. At the pass is chef-owner&nbsp;Joseph Rawlins, whose Paris-honed pedigree meets a deep respect for British seasonal produce &#8211; resulting in elegant, unpretentious and refined dishes with a Michelin Guide nod under its belt and a fiercely loyal following. We caught up with Rawlins to talk French training, flavour-first cooking, and his plans for the future&#8230;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-your-first-ever-kitchen-job-was">Your first ever kitchen job was…?</h2>



<p>My very first gig was as&nbsp;Commis Chef&nbsp;at&nbsp;The Artichoke Restaurant&nbsp;in Amersham, starting just two weeks after finishing college. I stayed there for three solid years &#8211; that’s where I met my partner&nbsp;Gaelle, who now runs front of house at&nbsp;La Popote. It was the perfect grounding, learning the ropes in a proper, bustling setup. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-career-highlight-to-date-and-why-nbsp">Career highlight to date and why?&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Working in&nbsp;Paris&nbsp;has to be it &#8211; immersing myself in the culture and food there was just unbelievable. For any young chef, it’s the dream: technique on another level, incredible ingredients, and that relentless energy that pushes you every day.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="680" height="692" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2026/04/La-Popote-Archived-LPX1-308.jpeg" alt="La Popote cheshire" class="wp-image-8533" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2026/04/La-Popote-Archived-LPX1-308.jpeg 680w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2026/04/La-Popote-Archived-LPX1-308-295x300.jpeg 295w" sizes="(max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px" /></figure></div>


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-describe-your-cooking-style-nbsp">Describe your cooking style?&nbsp;</h2>



<p>It’s all about&nbsp;seasonal produce&nbsp;with&nbsp;classic French influences. We let what’s fresh and at its peak dictate the menu. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-and-what-can-diners-expect-at-la-popote">And what can diners expect at La Popote?</h2>



<p>Casual fine dining with a twist. We’re obsessed with using as much&nbsp;local produce&nbsp;as possible, but the real magic is the&nbsp;seasonal&nbsp;focus &#8211; plates that feel effortless yet refined, celebrating what’s growing right now.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-most-memorable-moment-at-work-and-why">Most memorable moment at work and why?</h2>



<p>Getting added to the&nbsp;Michelin Guide&nbsp;was unreal. It was completely unexpected and an absolute boost for the whole team &#8211; proof that our hard graft, late nights and passion were paying off. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-biggest-mistake-you-ve-ever-made-in-the-kitchen-nbsp">Biggest mistake you’ve ever made in the kitchen?&nbsp;</h2>



<p>I once spent&nbsp;three days&nbsp;painstakingly building a stock, then left it reducing on the stove and forgot about it until smoke started billowing out. A brutal lesson in never getting too comfortable &#8211; stock like that doesn’t come cheap!</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="700" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2026/04/LaPopoteArchived-LPX1-209-ezgif.com-resize.jpg" alt="La Popote cheshire" class="wp-image-8534" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2026/04/LaPopoteArchived-LPX1-209-ezgif.com-resize.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2026/04/LaPopoteArchived-LPX1-209-ezgif.com-resize-300x210.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2026/04/LaPopoteArchived-LPX1-209-ezgif.com-resize-768x538.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure></div>


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-you-re-out-and-about-in-manchester-cheshire-where-are-your-fave-spots-to-eat-and-why">You&#8217;re out and about in Manchester/ Cheshire where are your fave spots to eat and why</h2>



<p>I&#8217;m a big fan of Wood Fire Smoke in Congleton &#8211; but especially on Margherita Mondays when you can order a Margherita or Marinara pizza for just £5.95 all day. Can&#8217;t beat it. And over in Manchester, Climat from the team behind Chester&#8217;s Covino is outstanding. Their food and wine pairings are out of this world. Definitely one to book for a date night. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fave-kitchen-gadget">Fave kitchen gadget?</h2>



<p>Ninja Ice cream machine or Thermomix&nbsp;&#8211; total game-changers for speed and consistency when you’re juggling a million things.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-guilty-food-pleasure-nbsp">Guilty food pleasure?&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Prawn cocktail sandwich. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-does-the-future-hold-for-you">What does the future hold for you?</h2>



<p>We want to continue making all our clients enjoy what we do. But I was also given the fantastic opportunity to cook on a <a href="https://www.goldeneagleluxurytrains.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Golden Eagle Luxury Train</a>. These trains are truly outstanding, running along some of the most incredible routes across Europe, and I cooked all the way from Paris to Istanbul. As you can imagine, it was first class, proper high-end all the way. It was an amazing experience, so hopefully we can do some more of them.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tell-us-your-best-ever-cooking-tip">Tell us your best ever cooking tip?</h2>



<p>To make clarified butter, vacuum pack the butter and heat up in the water bath. Once melted the buttermilk will separate from the butter. Cut the corner of the bag pour out the buttermilk first and then you will have perfectly clarified butter every time.&nbsp;</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="700" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2026/04/LaPopoteArchived-LPX1-264-ezgif.com-resize.jpg" alt="La Popote Cheshire" class="wp-image-8535" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2026/04/LaPopoteArchived-LPX1-264-ezgif.com-resize.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2026/04/LaPopoteArchived-LPX1-264-ezgif.com-resize-300x210.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2026/04/LaPopoteArchived-LPX1-264-ezgif.com-resize-768x538.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure></div>


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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-in-the-mood-for-more">IN THE MOOD FOR MORE?</h2>



<ul>
<li><a href="https://cheshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/latest-news/superflash-ivy-openings-celebrity-chefs-and-big-cheshire-glow-ups/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Superflash! Ivy openings, celebrity chefs and big Cheshire glow-ups</a></li>



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<li><a href="https://cheshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/the-best-supper-clubs-in-cheshire-this-spring/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The best supper clubs in Cheshire this spring</a></li>



<li><a href="https://cheshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/latest-news/cheshire-restaurants-in-the-michelin-guide/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Full list of Cheshire restaurants in the Michelin Guide 2025 — and the new entrant everyone’s talking about</a></li>
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What’s cooking? Joseph Rawlins of La Popote, Marton

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