Bucks &amp; Oxon


<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/02/DILIP1.jpg" alt="What's Cooking Dilip Kumara" class="wp-image-183744" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/02/DILIP1.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/02/DILIP1-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/02/DILIP1-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/02/DILIP1-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p><strong>Dilip Kumara is the fabulous pastry chef at <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/horwood-house-hotel-milton-keynes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Horwood House Hotel </a>near Milton Keynes. He’s an award-winning pastry chef and chocolatier (World Chocolate Master for the Middle East ’22, no less!), whose chocolate masterpieces are legendary. Dilip trained in his native Sri Lanka before working in luxury hotels in Dubai – now read on for how he’s bringing his secret sauce to <a href="https://www.horwoodhouse.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Horwood House</a>…</strong></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-your-first-ever-kitchen-job-was"><strong>Your first-ever kitchen job was…</strong></h2>



<p><strong>Apprentice kitchen trainer. I worked my way through all the kitchen departments while living in Sri Lanka.</strong></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-did-you-decide-you-wanted-to-be-a-chef-who-or-what-inspired-you"><strong>When did you decide you wanted to be a chef – who or what inspired you?</strong></h2>



<p><strong>My brother-in-law was a sous chef, so I would listen to his stories. I am also inspired by my mother; while I was growing up, I would watch her cook and help her in the kitchen.</strong></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-career-highlight-to-date"><strong>Career highlight to date?</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/02/DILIPKUMARA3.jpg" alt="What's Cooking Horwood House" class="wp-image-183750" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/02/DILIPKUMARA3.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/02/DILIPKUMARA3-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/02/DILIPKUMARA3-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/02/DILIPKUMARA3-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p><strong>Winning the World Chocolate Master competition for the Middle East region in 2022.</strong></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-describe-your-cooking-style-and-what-guests-at-horwood-house-can-expect"><strong>Describe your cooking style and what guests at Horwood House can expect.</strong></h2>



<p><strong>I am always pushing flavour boundaries, blending my East Asian background with my European experiences to infuse my dishes with new flavours and combinations to bring something new to my desserts.</strong></p>



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



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/02/DILIP3.jpg" alt="What's Cooking Dilip Kumara" class="wp-image-183746" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/02/DILIP3.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/02/DILIP3-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/02/DILIP3-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/02/DILIP3-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p><strong>Horwood House recently celebrated the five-year anniversary of being independently owned and our owner, Mr Kassam, asked me to create something special. I knew what I wanted to do: to create a cake replica of the Manor House. I was very proud of the finished cake.&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-biggest-mistake-you-ve-ever-made-in-the-kitchen"><strong>Biggest mistake you’ve ever made in the kitchen?</strong></h2>



<p><strong>Not putting enough gelatine in a mousse, a runny mousse is not good. I soon learnt my lesson on that one!</strong></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-who-is-your-favourite-rival-chef-and-why"><strong>Who is your favourite rival chef and why?</strong></h2>



<p><strong>I like to challenge myself, so it’s me.&nbsp;</strong></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-do-you-have-a-favourite-cookbook"><strong>Do you have a favourite cookbook?</strong></h2>



<p><strong>I don’t have a favourite cookbook. Lots of my friends are chefs and we all share ideas, flavourings, and combinations – although we don’t give&nbsp;<em>all</em>&nbsp;our secrets away.&nbsp;</strong></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-favourite-place-for-a-memorable-meal"><strong>Favourite place for a memorable meal?</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="850" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/02/EXTRAHORWOODHOUSE-850x1000.jpg" alt="Horwood House afternoon tea" class="wp-image-183779" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/02/EXTRAHORWOODHOUSE-850x1000.jpg 850w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/02/EXTRAHORWOODHOUSE-680x800.jpg 680w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/02/EXTRAHORWOODHOUSE-340x400.jpg 340w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/02/EXTRAHORWOODHOUSE.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 850px) 100vw, 850px" /></figure>



<p><strong>Afternoon tea at the Dorchester Hotel is on my bucket list.&nbsp;</strong></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-you-re-tired-and-hungry-what-s-your-go-to-for-a-quick-and-easy-supper"><strong>You’re tired and hungry – what’s your go-to for a quick and easy supper?</strong></h2>



<p><strong>Fried eggs, bread and cheese.</strong></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-favourite-food-nationality-and-why"><strong>Favourite food nationality and why?</strong></h2>



<p><strong>My childhood food from Sri Lanka, after that it’s Italian food. I really appreciate the effort of homemade pasta and pizza, starting with a good tomato-based sauce.</strong></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-guilty-food-pleasure"><strong>Guilty food pleasure?</strong></h2>



<p><strong>Curry and rice.</strong></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-do-you-love-most-about-being-a-chef">What do you love most about being a chef?</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/02/DILIPCHOCOLATES.jpg" alt="Horwood House " class="wp-image-183784" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/02/DILIPCHOCOLATES.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/02/DILIPCHOCOLATES-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/02/DILIPCHOCOLATES-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/02/DILIPCHOCOLATES-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Since becoming a chef, I have travelled the world and made friends all over the world. My love for food has allowed me to see and experience so much.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-and-how-do-you-relax-off-duty-do-you-have-time-for-hobbies-and-other-creative-outlets">And how do you relax off-duty – do you have time for hobbies and other creative outlets?</h2>



<p>When I&#8217;m not working at Horwood House, I love spending time with my wife and my nine-year-old daughter, helping her with craft projects, painting and, especially, cooking. I enjoy growing herbs and am looking forward to the kitchen garden being planted at Horwood House. I shall be making good use of it.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/02/DILIP2.jpg" alt="Horwood House" class="wp-image-183782" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/02/DILIP2.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/02/DILIP2-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/02/DILIP2-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/02/DILIP2-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p></p>


What’s Cooking? Pastry genius Dilip Kumara, Horwood House

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