Montgomery chef Stephane Borie says: "The Checkers opened in 2011 and within seven months we'd won a Michelin star"

He has worked with some of the biggest names in gastronomy, including Michel Roux, at The Waterside Inn, which holds three Michelin stars and is the most successful British restaurant of all time.

He fell in love with food as a young boy. "Food was a bringer of joy, a source of contentment: it gave me something to look forward to. I was born and raised in Agen, in south west France, near the river Garonne. We were 80 or so miles from Bordeaux."

During holidays, Stephane spent time with my grandfather. He was a big influence on Stephane's life and lived in a rural town that felt like it was a million miles from Agen.

"I would go there during the summer holidays and enjoy every moment. My grandfather loved food and had his own potage, which is like an allotment. It was located to the rear of his house and he would grow melons, courgettes and other fruit and vegetables.

"He took a great pride in his harvest each year and the potage was his pride and joy. He would also hunt, seeking out boar and rabbit with guns.

"I remember those times from the age of seven. They were fun."

At school, Stephane developed a love of football and heavy metal music but wasn't that interested in physics, history or geology. His passion was for food.

"When I reached the age of 15-and-a-half it was time to leave school. I took an apprenticeship as a chef and moved to Bordeaux."

Eventually, he was offered a job at one of the most important restaurants in the Sud Ouest, La Tupina.

La Tupina was one of a kind. It was evocative of a great countryside manor house, where the fireplace was at the heart of the home. At La Tupina, the fireplace was at the heart of the restaurant. It had a large counter at the front of the house, which was loaded with plump duck breasts, cuts of perfectly-marbled, aged beef and plump pieces of pork.

There were strawberries, loaves of bread, pieces of ham and more: it was an epicurean dream. After completing his National Service, he moved to London and got a job at L'Escargot, in Soho. It had welcomed the great and the good for generations, with Princess Diana, Judy Dench, Coco Chanel, Mick Jagger, Elton John and Sir John Gielgud being among its patrons.

His next posting was to The Waterside Inn, at Bray-on-Thames, which was founded by Michel and Albert Roux.

Stephane says: "Every chef will tell you that he wants to be the best: if not, then what is the point? Those who say they are not interested in Michelin stars or cooking to the highest standard don't fool anybody – except for themselves. I was thrilled at the prospect of working with one of Europe's greatest culinary institutions.

"In 2010, it became the first restaurant outside France to retain three Michelin stars for 25 years. It is truly remarkable. I learned more than I could imagine at The Waterside and I will be ever-grateful to the Roux family for that opportunity."

He launched his own restaurant at The Herbert Arms, in Chirbury, with his partner, Sarah, who had also cooked at The Waterside Inn, and Sarah's sister, Kathryn Francis.

"We saved as much money as we could, each invested an equal share and brought a rundown pub called The Herbert Arms, in Chirbury, about 20 miles from Shrewsbury. It was a dive. The Herbert Arms had no heating but the rent was cheap and we took the plunge."

After 18 months, they heard about another venue, The Checkers, at Montgomery, just over the Welsh border.

"The Checkers opened in 2011 and within seven months we'd won a Michelin star. It was beyond our wildest dreams.

"Suddenly we were being feted by critics and visited from people from around the UK.

"We celebrated our star by giving our locals glasses of champagne as they munched on their lunchtime sandwiches at the bar.

"The Checkers offers dishes that are rooted in tradition; they showcase my influences, from La Tupina to The Waterside Inn, and they have a strong French influence.

"Food is presented in a modern style and we are proud to have retained our Michelin star for so long.

"We published our debut book in 2016, The Frenchman and the Farmer's Daughters. It is available from the restaurant and we hope people will enjoy it."