This chef uses decades of experience to foster creativity in the kitchen - but loves a sneaky super noodle sandwich!
Michael Spink, head chef at Besty and Spinky's on Ventnor Seafront, has been running the cafe since October 2006, coming up in a "golden generation" of Island chefs at the Royal Hotel.
Michael said: "My dad was a fisherman — he had a crab factory in Ventnor that delivered to Billingsgate Market. I worked there in my teens.
"Later, I went on to the Royal Hotel and worked in the restaurant."
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Michael worked at the Royal for four and a half years, working at the same time as renowned chefs such as Andy Hinson, Adam Fendyke and Dan Maskell - and he loves to see his crop of colleagues all going on to do great things;
He said: "I think it’s amazing to see them doing well. It shows the passion we all had — and still have — for the trade. You have to love it."
Michael met Alan Best, and they took on the Ventnor Bay Cafe, before moving to the current premises by the iconic Isle of Wight paddling pool.
At the cafe, breakfasts are extremely popular, but the menu is constantly evolving, with Michael encouraging his kitchen staff to have fun through experimentation.
Michael said: "We try to keep things fresh using our specials board to do something a little different.
We do Battle of the Chefs after work - a chef has to do something they haven't done before.
It's a bit of fun and a great motivational tool - we have little games like that."
Besty and Spinky's is extremely successful, and has built up a customer base of locals who come throughout the winter, as well as capitalise on its prime location in the summer.
It was named Isle of Wight County Press Cafe of the Year in 2023 - something Michael and the team were incredibly proud of.
The cafe uses Island produce too - whether that be fish from J and B Fisheries, Isle of Wight Tomatoes, or produce from DJ Hunt.
We end our interview by asking Michael his guilty pleasure - which is the unconventional choice of super noodle sandwich.
He said: "with a bit of extra curry powder and cumin, on thick doorstop bread.
"I’m not proud of it… but I love it."
He finishes by saying his favourite meal is his sister's roast, because it's made with love.
"It's the best dish in the world, because it’s made by my family."
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