News

26th November 2012

The Chef's Room named Best Welsh Cookery School 2012

The Chef's Room Fish and Cookery School, run from our state-of-the-art Demonstration Kitchen, has beaten other top Welsh cookery schools to win the accolade of Best Welsh Cookery School at the British Cookery School Awards.

Lindy Wildsmith, food writer, tutor and owner of The Chef's Room, picked up her trophy at the awards event which took place at the Vintners' Company in the heart of the City of London, hosted by BBC Radio 2's food and drink presenter Nigel Barden.

The Chef's Room Fish and Cookery School was opened by Lindy, and chef and consultant Franco Taruschio OBE, in 2009. The state-of-the-art teaching facility is located in the premises of Vin Sullivan, the wholesale supplier of fresh fish, giving its students access to some of the best fresh fish and produce in the country. The school runs a regular annual programme of classes for the enthusiastic cook, including Welsh cooking and produce, as well as a wide range of Italian regional cookery classes.

Nigel Barden, head judge of the British Cookery School Awards which is headline sponsored by Kenwood said: "For this category we were looking for an all-round cookery school success story, and the winner had to have that extra special something which makes it the crème de la crème of cookery schools in Wales.

"The Chef's Room is at the heart of an area where there are many deprived communities and it recognises the need to provide support for local people and schools. Lindy and Franco's combined experience and vision, has ensured the school is a success, even though it is off the beaten track, which made it a worthy winner."

Lindy added: "We were up against the best of the best in Wales, so to win this award is a real honour. Our country now has such a high calibre of cookery schools which we should be extremely proud of. The level of skills and teaching within Wales is on a par with the top cookery schools in the world so it was excellent to see that the British Cookery School Awards had a dedicated Welsh category."

With more than 250 cookery schools now operating in the UK, The British Cookery School Awards were set up this year to honour all those excellent cookery schools that go above and beyond to deliver a first class cookery school experience. The awards aim to celebrate the important role that cookery schools play in driving Britain's passion for cooking good, homemade food.

As well as taking home the Best Welsh Cookery School trophy (sponsored by Dr. Oetker), the Chef's Room Fish and Cookery School won a top-of-the-range Kenwood kitchen appliance. The judging panel consisted of Nigel, Michelin-star chef Martin Blunos, the Centre of Hospitality and Retailing at Leeds Metropolitan University and Kenwood's development chef Martin Johns.

9th November 2012

South Wales Junior Chef ot the Year 2012/13

The competition took place at Pembroke College, Haverfordwest earlier this week and was won by Toby Hobby.
He beat 5 other budding chefs to clinch the title in this, his first attempt at any cookery competition.
His Menu was;

Souffle - 'Arnold Bennett' (Cheese & Smoked Haddock Souffle)
with Cullen Skink
~
Welsh Rabbit - stuffed saddle of rabbit with homemade rabbit tortini
Warm celeriac mousse & braising juices
~
Chestnut, chocolate & orange Arancini
with orange sorbet & chestnut mousse

Toby is a Junior Chef de Partie at the famous Bear Hotel, Crickhowell, and his mentor is Head Chef Iain Sampson. He goes on to compete against the whole of Wales in February for the National title. Remaining impartial - Toby is the son of Glyn & Jackie Hobby, Jackie of course is our long standing and very proud office manager.

Must run in the family!!

 

30th October 2012

Flavours of Herefordshire Festival 2012

It was our first year at the Flavours of Herefordshire Festival this year, but certainly not the last! With fresh fish preparation demonstrations by the always excellent Duncan & Sue Lucas - 'Passionate About Fish' complementing the fresh fish we had on display - the demonstrations were standing room only throughout the whole weekend, which all of our team enjoyed.

 

29th October 2012

Exercise Joint Caterer 2012

Attended over three days by members of the Army, Navy and Ari Force, Vin Sullivan's stand featured lots of new products and menu ideas for the coming season - many of which will be in our new Christmas specials, out very soon.

With an array of talent on display the competitions were closely fought over three days - the quality of the entries were outstanding again this year - we have pictured just a few of the entries below...

 

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Gallery

New offices and Shop Front - August 2008

 

Another fresh delivery from Vin Sullivan's at the Castle Bay Hotel - Isle of Barra in the Hebrides (Chef Slawek Pilarski and Manager John Campbell pictured)  over 750 miles away from us!!

Cookery lessons at the Chef's Room with Franco Taruschio in our demonstration kitchen