A chef who trained in Thanet and developed his skills around the world is earning praise from top national food critics for his Broadstairs restaurant.

Steven Dray’s tapas bar and restaurant, Albarino in Albion Street, Broadstairs, has this year gained mentions in the Michelin Guide and the Good Food Guide and been recognised as a “hidden gem”.

His dishes have also gained positive mentions from critics in national newspapers and specialist food magazines.

The Good Food Guide remarked on “ingredients carefully sourced and thoughtfully prepared” while the Michelin Guide commented on the “freshly prepared, full-flavoured tapas dishes.”

Steven, 44, from Broadstairs, is a great believer in using fresh, seasonal, quality ingredients, grown on the doorstep. He is a keen supporter of local producers and says more people should value them and “use them or lose them.”

He trained at Thanet College, after attending St Peter’s primary and St George’s schools. After working in London under leading and Michelin-starred chefs, Steven worked in destinations as far flung as Abu Dhabi, India, Canada, France, Spain and the West Indies.

He said: “Travel has changed my way of eating and dining. Here we tend to think in terms of starters, main courses and desserts. In other parts of the world, the style of eating is much more about eating food as it comes out ready from the kitchen.

“Eating in the rest of the world tends to be much more social, people sit to eat, talk and share. That is what I like about the concept of tapas, its a way of eating that is more sociable and tapas tend to be unfussy, which I like.”

Although tapas are traditionally Spanish, Stephen says his dishes are not typically Spanish.

He runs Albarino with wife Steph whom he met while working in Manchester where he was a chef and she a waitress. The couple live in Westgate with their children Stanley, six, and Sacha, six months.

Albarino is named after Steph’s favourite wine.