A CHEF who has cooked for Bill Clinton and David Beckham is further developing his talents in the kitchen of one of the UK’s leading chilled and frozen food companies.

Jonathan Murray is the latest development and innovation chef to be employed by SK Chilled Foods.

Based at the company’s head office in Wynyard, near Billingham, the 35-year-old has joined an existing team of four chefs who create the dishes which are enjoyed by millions of people across the UK.

Mr Murray, who lives with his wife and son in Ripon, said: “I entered catering immediately after leaving school and after 20 years working in kitchens of restaurants, hotels and pubs, I was ready for a new, and very different, challenge, so I am delighted to have started work at SK Chilled Foods.

“This role will enable me to do what I enjoy most which is being creative and inventing new and exciting dishes.”

During his time as a chef Jonathan, who is classically trained and went to Harrogate College, has worked in some of the country’s best fine dining restaurants, including Burnham Beeches in Buckinghamshire and Rudding Park in Harrogate.

He was at Burnham Beeches when the England football team used to train and stay at the hotel, which meant he cooked for players such as David Beckham, Alan Shearer and David Seaman.

He said: “You were not mean to speak to the players but they often came down to ask if I could make something for them and they were very polite. There was a menu they had to stick to so I remember making David Beckham a chicken club sandwich.”

When he was at Rudding Park, he cooked for former President Bill Clinton who was giving a speech at the hotel.