AFTER spending 15 years working in kitchens across Scotland, a Greenock chef is now cooking up a treat for the people of Inverclyde at his newly-launched Port Glasgow cafe.
Danny Millar opened Millar’s Munchies five months ago, bringing a wealth of experience to the site in Bridgend Avenue.
The 39-year-old started out working in various local restaurants in his 20s.
He spent time at the likes of The Square, The Waterwheel and The Point before moving to the Isle of Iona in the Inner Hebrides to take up a job.
Danny was a chef at the island's Argyll Hotel, which offers handcrafted meals using locally-sourced vegetables and meat.
From there, he went on to spend a year working in the kitchen at Saucy Mary’s on the Isle of Skye.
The keen chef then spent six months travelling in Asia, returning home to Greenock in December last year to be closer to family.
A few months after arriving back in Inverclyde, he was given the chance to takeover the Port Glasgow cafe – which was previously home to Westies.
Danny said: “I’ve always wanted to try do my own thing. This came up and I just decided to jump right in and gave it a bash.
“The opportunity came right out of the blue. I got the keys and I was pretty much open two days later.
“I'm a few months in and now that I’ve got the place the way I want and I’ve got my own menu, I’m loving it.
“It’s been brilliant. I want to retire from here.”
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Danny said he has loved getting to grips with running his own café and becoming part of the community.
He told the Tele: “I’ve gotten to know everybody up here, which is brilliant.
“I’m on first name terms with so many people already.
“I’m here making rolls and talking to people all day.
“I’ve never worked face-to-face with people before.
“Normally, as a chef, you’re stuck in the back and you do don’t get to see anybody, so I absolutely love this.”
As well as his food being a hit with customers, Danny has become known among locals for another reason.
His white chef’s hat - which he wears with pride while serving at Millar's Munchies - has proved popular with those visiting the shop.
Danny said: “I told somebody a couple of years ago that if I ever opened a cafe, the first thing I would do is put on a big white hat.
"When I got this place, I had to do it. All the weans that come in love it."
Danny has spent the past few months curating his menu while settling in at the Bridgend Avenue unit - which sits close to the junction with Boglestone Avenue and Ardmore Road.
Open six days a week, he serves up hot rolls, full breakfasts, toasties, paninis and other cafe classics.
He added: “We’re do a bit of everything. We do breakfast, loaded fries, nachos.
“I want to move into dinners since we’re open later now. I’d like to do Sunday roasts eventually as well.
“Just now, it’s a bit of trial and error to see what works and what people want.”
Millar’s Munchies is open until 3pm on Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday, with Danny running a later service until 7pm from Wednesday to Friday.
Customers can also place orders online through Clyde Eats or by calling 07532 662754.
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