Minute on the clock: Filippo La Gattuta, executive chef for the Big Mamma Group

The executive chef for the Big Mamma Group in the UK talks about serving up social media sensations and the importance of having fun

How did you come to join the Big Mamma Group?

I was working in Paris when my chef called me into his office and said "Filippo, I cannot give you more than this". I had worked in every section, I was a senior chef de partie and there was no opportunity for me to become a sous chef or more.

He gave me the number of one of the Big Mamma founders and I called him and listened to what they wanted to do. My first interview was in 2014 and I decided to go for the opening of the first restaurant in the group, East Mamma in Paris in 2015. It's been a long love story and I'm still here and I still enjoy my job. Now I am in charge of all the restaurants in the UK. We have had great results and we love our restaurants. I particularly love Gloria because it's the first baby we had here in London.