A Few Words About
Who We Are
The Trio
The Trio
The trio behind Whisked-Away, who make it happen are Richard Axford, David Hughes and Mike Mounfield. The trio have come together via Mike Mounfield. Mike met Richard Axford back in 2004 when the pair worked closely to create the Lakes Hotel School in Kendal, Cumbria.
Challenging the norms
As well as developing the curriculum for the Hotel School the pair also created innovative learning that pushed the norms of food education. The duo would constantly review what they had done and ask, “how do we make it better?”. During this time together the pair created what was known as the Culinary Team.
Food tours
The Culinary Teams’ members changed annually; the team led by Richard would work on events throughout the year. After each event the team would receive a small percentage of the profit, this money was used for an outstanding food tour at the end of the learners’ studies.
The visits, managed by Richard have included city’s as far west as San Francisco and as far east as Tokyo, with the best food destinations in between, over the years more than one hundred and fifty students have benefited from the Culinary Team with more than twelve countries visited over three continents.
Creating great employees
The pair are also credited with many students securing positions in some of the best venues in Cumbria and across England, with some called upon to share their own expertise with projects Mike and Richard are currently working on separately.
Liverpool duo
After leaving Cumbria, Mike moved to work in Liverpool and met David Hughes, at the time David was the Managing Director for a Liverpool based hotel developer, responsible for the opening of a luxury hotel and spa.
When the pair met there was an instant connection, and they developed a strong working relationship. Although the pair didn’t work together for a further five years they were always in contact and sharing each other’s expertise, they have been described “as the opposite sides of the same penny” and always seen together at events across the region.
David went on to become the Managing Director of another Liverpool based company a few years later Mike joined David within the business and the pair become colleagues for the first time.
New projects
After they both left the company, they set up their own separate consultancy and separate education businesses and continue to work together on many projects nationally and internationally.
Award winning restauranteurs and author
In recent years the pair have been part of a team who have been privileged to open a regional Chinese restaurant in Liverpool, they managed the design, building and creation of the team to operate the restaurant, it has become one of Liverpool best restaurants, winning restaurant of the year and visit England’s Gold Award.
As part of this project Mike and the restaurants Executive Head Chef have written an authentic book of recipes and story’s about dishes served in the Liverpool restaurant.
The Trio
During lockdown the Mike and David were also involved in the creation of a company to supply food to households across the UK, as part of this project, Mike, introduced Richard to David and the team, Richard was the “critical friend”. Richard would receive the prototype food boxes, and provided his expert culinary knowledge on the dishes and the cooking instructions.
As a result of this work the trio have become good friend and are now Directors of Whisked-Away and they continue to make it happen.
