When people discover who Rory Franklin’s brother is, their response is often the same. “They tell me they follow him on social media,” he says, smiling.
Calum Franklin, executive head chef at Holborn Dining Room, has gained tens of thousands of Instagram followers who admire his ornately decorated, structurally daring and downright delicious looking pies, pastries and tarts. The stunning pastry-encased offerings include his take on the humble pork pie – made with pork shoulder, leg, pancetta and smoked ham hock – alongside a curried mutton pie with mango chutney. All are rendered so artistically that he’s been described as a “Pie-chelangelo”.
Not that he was always a connoisseur of inventive cookery. “Growing up, beans on toast was a staple meal he’d make,” says Rory, who at 31 is four years Calum’s junior and a software engineer. Their relationship revolves around winding one another up – just as it did during their childhood in Bromley, south London. Despite this, the digs are undercut by an affection and pride in one another’s success.
“Calum’s pies are absolutely incredible,” says Rory. “When I see him in newspaper articles and well-known people talking about him on social media, it’s surreal to think that’s my brother.”
Life as a chef is notoriously gruelling, with 12-hour days spent in the kitchen. His brother’s career is also demanding and despite both living in London, the pair have to make a concerted effort to see one another. “For the past few years, Calum’s been working really hard to make a name for himself, so it’s not as easy for him to get out and meet me,” says Rory. “So I’ll pop into the restaurant when I can for a beer and a catch-up.”
“He’s very good like that,” says Calum. “I appreciate him coming to the restaurant. Rory’s been very successful in what he does, although he’ll always downplay it.”
They admit that their elder brother Jamie, who lives in Singapore, was the academic one, while Rory was the nerd. Calum “was always causing mischief and getting into trouble,” he admits. “In fact, that carried on until I was about 30.”
With three boys, arguments were inevitable. As the youngest, Rory bore the brunt. “I definitely got it the worst,” he chuckles. Calum interjects: “But you’d defend yourself by throwing things at us. Anything that came to hand – like stones, or once, a boomerang!”
One light-hearted incident has entered Franklin family legend. “I really clearly remember Rory winning a prize at school when he was about 13. It was going to be presented to him at speech day,” says Calum. “So, to torment him, our mum had T-shirts made for the whole family to wear, with a picture of Rory at Disney World wearing a ridiculous outfit.”
Rory winces visibly. “It was utterly humiliating,” he says, mustering a resigned smile.
Even now, their mother, a former NHS radiographer, holds her own with her sons. “She’s on Twitter and constantly takes the mickey out of me,” says Calum. “With three boys she had to give as good as the rest of us.”
Calum began his career at Chapter One, near Orpington, before honing his skills at The Ivy. After university, Rory joined him in London, but their relationship suffered as a result of their ambitions. “We drifted apart because of work,” says Calum. “But we’re finding each other again now and are much closer than in our 20s.”
They aim to get together whenever they can for family meals. “It’s become quite a big tradition,” says Calum. “It’s usually me who ends up doing the cooking and Rory will do the washing up!
“When we make time to get together we love doing the whole sharing thing with food – it’s fun. Of course, we’ll be making constant digs at one another the entire time, too.”
