22/09/2026
We're excited for Zak to be joining us in the kitchen tomorrow. It's a big day for our fantastic team as not only is it's Zak's first day leading the kitchen but we also welcome our partners Kickback Kitchen for the afternoon too.
We’re glad to introduce Zak, who’s joining the kitchen team at Wolverton.
Zak has been cooking professionally for over nine years across pubs, grills, and restaurants. But for him, it always comes back to the same simple thing: cooking proper food that makes people happy.
"I just love feeding people," says Zak. "Seeing someone enjoy a proper plate of food -that’s good work, and it’s time well spent."
Zak has recently joined Kickback Kitchen and is excited to take on a bigger role at Wolverton, helping to develop the kitchen, support the team and make sure we continue providing great home-cooked meals to the community. He likes to balance traditional recipes with a few new ideas, though he’s strict on one thing: getting the sauce right.
If you’ve had the smoky beef chilli recently, you’ve already tasted his work. It’s one of his favourites to prepare because of the time and slow cooking it takes to get those rich flavours going.
Zak’s also glad to be working alongside our food surplus efforts.
"Having worked in kitchens for years, throwing away good food just makes no sense," Zak says. "It’s good to be somewhere making sure proper ingredients end up in tummies, not the bin."
Away from the kitchen, Zak is very family-oriented and enjoys reading, hiking and travelling. He has visited around 20–25 countries, including spending time working abroad and experiencing different cultures and cuisines.
Zak will also continue cooking at the YMCA, where he already works weekend shifts, giving him the opportunity to bring his experience of that kitchen together with Kickback’s recipes and approach.
We’re really pleased to have him on board, keeping the Wolverton pots bubbling.
Dinner sorted.
