Sally Main

Director of Business Development

What would your last meal be?

If I could stomach it, steak tartare to start; real Spanish tapas (including lots and lots of pata negra ham and nice manzanilla sherry) for main course, and British cheese, oatcakes and chutney for pudding. With plenty of lager all round. I am a classy girl!

What is your most memorable food experience?

Most of the best things that have ever happened in my life have revolved around a food experience of some sort so this is too hard to call. However a meal at a very swish restaurant is very memorable for me as every dish made me feel totally sick. I had to keep smiling and chewing as we were with clients, but I cannot eat beef daube to this day as I found out later that week that I was pregnant.

What is most likely to ruin your evening when dining out?

An empty restaurant; firstly I wonder why no one else is there and what they know that I do not, and also because I love to people watch and that pleasure is taken away from me if we are dining alone!

What is the most disgusting thing you’ve ever eaten?

Sausages in France which were made from horses’ entrails. Please note that I was not aware they were made of horse when I ordered them.

Who or what inspired your career in the food industry?

As a trained environmental scientist I did not expect to be in the food industry, but I had great fun working in a popular restaurant in Newcastle throughout my university life and this got me started. My first boss at Harrods, Claire Moins, was superb and taught me the importance of organisation, customer service, structured and fun training, and discipline. All bedrocks that I believe need to be in place for someone to be successful in this industry.