About Me

My Passion for food started at a young age in my parent’s own establishment. With Italian and Spanish parents, it is no surprise I gravitated towards the kitchen where I got my first job working in a bakery in Scotland.

I then decided the best way for me to further my knowledge was to travel and experience new cuisines. Armed with my Sabatier knives and Repertoire de le cuisine, I set off for France, Spain, Italy and the USA.

After a dozen years I returned to UK to realize how much the British cuisine had evolved in my absence. I had a lot of catching up to do and secured employment with Marco Pierre white, Pierre Koffman and eventually Gordon Ramsey.

Finally, I returned to Scotland to settle down where I became head chef at what was to become ‘One of the Crown Jewels of Edinburgh’ and awarded a BIB gourmand by the Michelin Guide.

Portfolio

Collaborations

Brand Ambassador for Michelin Star Chef Roberto Franzina. For his Healthy and eco-friendly selection of pasta made from sustainably produced flour. Chef Roberto’s key inspiration for MACINO was to reinvigorate the agri-food production of Italy and prevent the loss of nutrients, which often impacts the earth and individual health. With pasta flour created from grape marc, apples, and derivate of hops.

As part of the Ilio Group in Tehran, I was flown over on several occasions to work with them in developing their restaurant by assisting with the design of the menu and kitchen space. While simultaneously working with them through their hiring process to help train their new staff.

As a guest judge for events such as MBC 1 Top Chef ,Gulf Food and Taste of Abu Dhabi, to name a few.

Working to educate both the children and their parents in living a healthier lifestyle. One of many several events for VVIP guests that I was asked to undertake both in Saudi Arabia and UAE .

Services

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CULINARY INSTRUCTOR

With now 9 years experience within the culinary education sector this allowed me to build on my coaching skills and become more personable within the hot headed kitchen environment.

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Restaurant Consultation

My consultation ranges from single location establishments to corporate franchises and even large hotel chains.

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Promotional Events

As a well-known chef in the industry, I am approached by top brands regionally and globally known. I have vast experience presenting to a large live audience as well as one to one pre-recorded events.

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Brand Ambassador

I manage basic comprehension marketing through my professional social media pages. I continue to engage with my audience through a community approach.

Family Meals and Marco’s Family

Although I had four beautiful babies, I was still working 16 hours plus not to mention the traveling I did between home and the hotel I worked at. It was this traveling up and down and the limited time I had with my babies that I discovered what it meant to do quick and easy family meals. I would make a big batch of Bolognese sauce that we’d have in a lasagne one night and then with spaghetti the next.

My Blog

Slow cooked Thai beef stew

by Marco J Morana | Jan 3, 2019 | Recipes

Ingredients x 4 500 g Beef for stewing (diced) 2 medium sized onions (yellow, diced) 2 cloves of garlic (crushed) 150 ml coconut milk 150 beef stock 30 g red curry paste 15 ml freshly squeezed lime juice 15 ml peanut oil 1 Jalapeno Chili peppers (chopped) 15 g brown sugar 200 g baby spinach Seasoning Method Preheat sauté pan over medium-high heat. Cook until beef brown (caramelized). Drain excess grease. Transfer beef to a sauce pan and season. In the same sauté pan add onion and garlic over