Wiltshire


<p>When it comes to kitchen credentials, chef Matteo Romeo has earned some seriously impressive accolades. He’s landed two AA Rosettes, counts a culinary legend amongst his dinner guests and – together with partner in crime Brandon – has won plaudits for transforming The Duke Hotel in Hilmarton into a foodie tour de force. Here he gives Muddy the lowdown&#8230;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/10/Matteo-Romeo-Brandon-Marais-The-Duke-Hotel.jpg" alt="The Duke Hotel Hilmarton" class="wp-image-38622" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/10/Matteo-Romeo-Brandon-Marais-The-Duke-Hotel.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/10/Matteo-Romeo-Brandon-Marais-The-Duke-Hotel-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/10/Matteo-Romeo-Brandon-Marais-The-Duke-Hotel-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/10/Matteo-Romeo-Brandon-Marais-The-Duke-Hotel-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Matteo and Brandon (L-R). </figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-your-first-job-in-a-kitchen-nbsp"><strong>Your first job in a kitchen?&nbsp;</strong></h2>



<p>When I was 15, I worked in a local pâtisserie in&nbsp;my&nbsp;hometown in Sicily.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-most-memorable-moment-at-work-nbsp"><strong>Most memorable moment at work?&nbsp;</strong></h2>



<p>I proposed to my husband Brandon in the kitchen of our first place, The Chandos Arms, near Aylesbury. We still talk about it, years later. We’ve spent so much time at work that&nbsp;we don’t&nbsp;differentiate&nbsp;between home&nbsp;and&nbsp;work.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tell-us-your-career-highlight-so-far-nbsp-nbsp"><strong>Tell us your career highlight so far?</strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/06/Muddy-Awards-2025-19-1000x667.jpg" alt="Muddy Awards" class="wp-image-36872" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/06/Muddy-Awards-2025-19-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/06/Muddy-Awards-2025-19-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/06/Muddy-Awards-2025-19-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/06/Muddy-Awards-2025-19.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image: The Little Photo Company </figcaption></figure>



<p>Opening our own place has to be high up there!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-have-you-ever-cooked-for-anyone-famous-nbsp"><strong>Have you ever cooked for anyone famous?&nbsp;</strong></h2>



<p>I have had the privilege of cooking for William, The Prince of Wales. It was a burger, and a bacon and sausage bap! I’m also&nbsp;pleased&nbsp;to have cooked for&nbsp;Marco&nbsp;Pierre&nbsp;White a couple of times at The Duke. He is a lovely man and a legend in the industry.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sum-up-your-food-philosophy"><strong>Sum up your food philosophy?</strong></h2>



<p>For me, food is the soul of the restaurant. It’s not just about what’s on the plate, it’s the story it tells, the comfort it brings and the memories it creates. I’m not chasing trends, my goal is simple: to cook genuinely good food that keeps people coming back.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-you-re-tired-starving-and-impatient-what-do-you-cook-for-dinner-nbsp"><strong>You’re tired, starving and impatient: what do you cook for dinner?&nbsp;</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/10/Matteo-Romeo-interview.jpg" alt="Matteo Romeo chef interview The Duke Hotel Hilmarton" class="wp-image-38499" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/10/Matteo-Romeo-interview.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/10/Matteo-Romeo-interview-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/10/Matteo-Romeo-interview-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/10/Matteo-Romeo-interview-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>A simple tomato&nbsp;pasta,&nbsp;or a good old ham and cheese toastie always hits the spot.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-favourite-chef"><strong>Favourite chef?</strong></h2>



<p>Italian chef Antonino Cannavacciuolo – his restaurant Villa Crespi as three Michelin stars. And Clare Smyth, whose restaurant Core also has three Michelin stars.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tell-us-your-top-three-cooking-tips"><strong>Tell us your top three cooking tips&#8230;</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/10/Duke-Hotel-pudding.jpg" alt="The Duke Hotel" class="wp-image-34519" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/10/Duke-Hotel-pudding.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/10/Duke-Hotel-pudding-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/10/Duke-Hotel-pudding-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">One of Matteo&#8217;s divine desserts</figcaption></figure>



<p>Always taste what you are cooking &#8211; taste&nbsp;as you go! Use a good sharp knife, it makes your life so much easier. A spoonful of Bovril paste is a game-changer in most sauces and stocks.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-your-failsafe-meal-to-impress-a-date-nbsp"><strong>Your failsafe meal to impress a date?&nbsp;</strong></h2>



<p>It has to be homemade focaccia pizza.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ever-had-a-disaster-in-the-kitchen-nbsp"><strong>Ever had a disaster in the kitchen?&nbsp;</strong></h2>



<p>I’ve cut my fingers more&nbsp;times&nbsp;than&nbsp;I&#8217;d&nbsp;like to remember, I’ve burned food and I’ve turned whipping cream into butter too. We’re all human!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-most-overrated-ingredient-nbsp"><strong>Most overrated ingredient?&nbsp;</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/10/Matteo-Romeo-interview.1.jpg" alt="Matteo Romeo chef interview The Duke Hotel Hilmarton" class="wp-image-38498" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/10/Matteo-Romeo-interview.1.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/10/Matteo-Romeo-interview.1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/10/Matteo-Romeo-interview.1-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/10/Matteo-Romeo-interview.1-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Lobster.&nbsp;I’ve always felt that there is so much more to say about a&nbsp;well-cooked&nbsp;langoustine.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-favourite-ingredient-and-why-nbsp"><strong>Favourite ingredient and why?&nbsp;</strong></h2>



<p>Salt &#8211; it is the base of almost every dish. It brings out the flavours and&nbsp;I&nbsp;absolutely love a good pinch of salt in a dessert recipe.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-favourite-cookbook-nbsp"><strong>Favourite cookbook?&nbsp;</strong></h2>



<p>The culinary encyclopaedia, <em>Larousse Gastronomique</em>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-favourite-food-to-eat-when-on-holiday-nbsp-nbsp"><strong>Favourite food to eat when on holiday?&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/10/sushi.jpg" alt="matteo romeo interview The Duke Hotel Hilmarton" class="wp-image-38506" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/10/sushi.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/10/sushi-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/10/sushi-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/10/sushi-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Sushi, we&nbsp;can&nbsp;never get enough of it. Thai is probably next on my list though&#8230;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-dish-you-re-most-proud-of-creating-nbsp"><strong>The dish you’re most proud of creating?&nbsp;</strong></h2>



<p>Every spring, I’m always proud to put lamb rump back on the menu. Chefs pull together inspiration, experiences and ideas, and try to make them work in harmony. For me, the lamb dish is one of those times where everything just comes together beautifully.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-favourite-dish-you-ve-ever-cooked-nbsp"><strong>Favourite dish you’ve ever cooked?&nbsp;</strong></h2>



<p>My mother’s lasagne, followed by my Nonna’s tiramisu. Nostalgic, delicious and a perfect meal.&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong><a href="https://www.dukehotelhilmarton.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Duke Hotel</a>,&nbsp;1 Church Rd, Hilmarton, Calne,&nbsp;Wiltshire SN11 8SD</strong></p>



<p><strong>IN THE MOOD FOR MORE? </strong></p>



<p><a href="The Duke Hotel Hilmarton" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Review: The Duke Hotel Hilmarton </a></p>



<p><a href="https://wilts.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/the-best-afternoon-teas-in-wiltshire/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cake calling! 16 of the best afternoon teas in Wiltshire</a></p>



<p><a href="https://wilts.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/restaurants/michelin-star-winners-wiltshire-somerset-bath-bristol-near-me-top-restaurants/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wiltshire&#8217;s Michelin stars for 2025</a></p>


What’s Cooking? Matteo Romeo, Head Chef at The Duke Hotel, Hilmarton

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