From children's nurse to cooking pasta - meet Sheffield's newest restaurateur

Butta La Pasta on London Road is his newest baby to look after.

His journey from ward to kitchen began when he started cooking Italian food at home.

Self-trained chef Stephen said: “I built up my repertoire of dishes that I was cooking and I used to say to my wife they were good, and it wasn’t the sort of thing you find in restaurants.

“I thought I would put my money where my mouth is and try a few pop ups around Heeley.

“They went well and so I decided to do it full time - put my cards on the table.”

Dishes on the menu include pasta - of course - but also items such as Tuscan style tomato soup and caponati, a medley of vegetables with a ‘sweet and sour’ flavour.

Stephen plans to change the whole menu every month after opening four weeks ago, next month will be focused on a Sicilian theme.

He added: “We want to change the menu every month just from a seasonal point of view so we are using vegetables that are at their best.”

There is also a focus on value.

Dad-of-two Stephen, who lives in Heeley and previously worked at Sheffield Children’s Hospital, added: “You look at some Italian menus and they are charging £4 for olives, it’s just a bowl of olives.

“We do want to appeal to families and students and foodies, and to be accessible to everyone.”

But is the heat of the kitchen proving tougher than life on the frontline of the NHS?

Stephen, who cooks along with another chef, added: “It’s very much a different stress.

“It’s very exciting and I am enjoying being in the kitchen. “We’re really proud of the food that we have been cooking and people seem to be enjoying it.”

Butta La Pasta is based at 280 London Road.