Chef Spotlight | Monique Meintjes of The Bucket & Spade
The Bucket & Spade, perched on a hillside near Shaldon, is all about great food, amazing sea views, and a laid-back vibe.
As proud South Devon locals, The Bucket & Spade love championing their region's incredible produce, serving up everything from hearty breakfasts to classic lunchtime and evening meals, with their own twist.
Head Chef, Monique Meintjes, describes her cooking style as passionate, creative and vibrant. She's a talented young chef who's still learning, She's all about bringing fresh ideas to the kitchen and a youthful flair to the team. She loves keeping things relaxed, experimenting with new concepts and constantly building new skills.
We asked Monique about her career, top tips in the kitchen, favourite ingredients and of course, her guilty foodie pleasure - and more.
What's your most treasured food memory?
One of my most treasured memories is standing on a stool at the kitchen counter, completely covered in flour, helping bake my sister’s birthday cake. It wasn't perfect, but the buzz of mixing ingredients and seeing it transform in the oven was magical. Ever since then I've loved baking for my loved ones.
What has been your career highlight so far?
A defining moment in my career was collaborating directly on the creation of our summer menu, taking the lead on fresh concepts that became instant crowd favourites with our guests.
Do you have a favourite seasonal ingredient, and how would you serve it?
My favourite seasonal ingredient is samphire. It has that perfect salty crunch, and I love tossing it fresh through light summer salads or pan-frying it to serve alongside our fish specials. It works really well with sundried tomatoes too.
What does sustainable mean to you?
To me, sustainability is all about smart kitchen habits and minimizing waste by reusing fresh ingredients across multiple dishes on the menu, ensuring we get the absolute most out of everything we prep.
Do you have a favourite drink?
It's got to be an iced vanilla latte. Coffee keeps me going!
What is your secret weapon in the kitchen?
My secret weapon is my perfectly sharp, lightweight prep knife. Having a tool that feels like an extension of your own hand makes slicing through prep so much quicker and easier.
What's always in your fridge at home?
Always a couple of packs of spinach and ricotta tortellini. When you spend all day cooking food from scratch at work, you just want something quick, carby and delicious at home.
Guilty foodie pleasure? Spill the beans!
A classic pepperoni pizza with extra pepperoni and garlic mayo, always!
Share your best kitchen tip with us
If a dish feels like it's missing something, don't just dump in more salt. Try a squeeze of fresh lemon juice or a splash of vinegar instead.
A tiny bit of acid instantly wakes up all the flavours and makes the whole thing pop. I first learnt the vinegar trick from my mum in a tomato sauce for spaghetti bolognese, then applied that in my own cooking and discovered lemon juice is a great option too.
The Bucket & Spade can be found at Coast View Holiday Park, Torquay Road, Shaldon, TQ140BG
01626 818450 | hello@thebucketandspade.com | Book a table
Monday to Friday 9am - 6pm | Saturday and Sunday 9am - 5.30pm