Top Chef On The Right Track At North East Restaurant



A CHEF who was runner-up in a leading TV cooking contest is now steaming ahead at a revamped North East hotel and restaurant.

Leon Dodd, who took second place in Masterchef The Professionals in 2008 – and so impressed judge Michel Roux Jr that he offered him a job in his two Michelin star restaurant, Le Gavroche – has now taken up the role of head chef at The Pullman Hotel, Bar and Restaurant, Sunderland.

And his appointment is part of a plan by the hotel's new owners to put it on the map as a destination eatery.

The Pullman – which gets its name because it features two historic, original Pullman carriages – was taken over six months ago by Rosalind Leisure.

The company has invested heavily in revamping the hotel including the creation of Carriages Tea Room and Platform 5 bar and eatery and the upgrading of its conference facilities.

The appointment of Leon means the aim of creating both a casual and more formal dining experience at the hotel are now on track.

“We're delighted to have Leon on board,” said John Gray.

“The first menu he's created for us is already going down a storm and everyone has remarked on it.

“We're looking forward to working with him going forward.”

The current menu is more informal and is being served in the Platform 5 bar, and it offers a range of anti pasti and mezze sharing plates along with favourites such as proper fish and chips, spiced lamb burgers and Thai green curry.

Leon revealed that he is now working on a second menu with the aim of offering a fine dining style experience, focussing on seafood.

“When I was in Masterchef I became known for my fish dishes and Michel Roux offered me a job working on the fish section at Le Gavroche,” he said.

“Given the great location – right by the sea – and my passion, it makes sense for fish to strongly feature on the menu I'm currently creating.

“This is a great challenge and very exciting for me.”

For more information about The Pullman, or to book, visit www.thepullmansunderland.co.uk or call 0191 529 2020.


Chef Wise website .


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Era Of Ultra-Premium Sipping Vodka - Discover The Ultimate Luxury Of British Made Quintessentially Vodka

Image
The era of ultra-premium vodka has dawned. Quintessentially Vodka redefines luxury spirits with sleek design and a liquid of such discerning quality that is quite simply perfection on ice. The exclusive British made ultra-premium vodka with its emblematic black matte bottle - already an essential in the most elite bars, awarded restaurants and private member clubs in the UK - launched into Harvey Nichols in April 2013. Quintessentially Vodka is produced in one of Britain's oldest continuous working distilleries, where each bottle is individually handled by distillery fellows wearing white cotton gloves to protect the beautiful bottle. The Vodka is crafted from the finest organic wheat and purest English water (filtered through ancient pebble beds). These artisanal practices culminate in the smoothest, purest liquid to sip, savour and enjoy. Unparalleled luxury, ultra-premium credentials, British heritage and superior quality make Quintessentially Vodka the most ...
Read more

A recipe for perfect Yorkshire pudding

Image
A lot is spoken about Yorkshire pudding but is in not such a very difficult thing to do. All it is, is a batter mix that is put in a mould with some oil so that it soufflés up as it bakes. As long as you follow a few simple rules then you should have a perfect pudding every time. To make the batter you will need. 125g/8oz plain flour 300ml/¾ pint milk 2 eggs Pinch of salt Some vegetable oil. Now a lot of propel say that you need a strong bread flour to make a god batter for Yorkshire puddings but I have found that over time it does not really matter. But if you are going to use a strong flour let it rest for a little longer to allow the glutens to start working and get soaked up in the liquid . Take you flour and sift it in to a bowel to make sure that you do not get any lumps. Then make a well in the middle and crack your eggs in to that. Now taking a whisk start to work the eggs in to the flour. It will start to from a thick paste. If you think that it is getting to hard to work then...
Read more

The Lakes Distillery- Sealing Deals With Drams

Image
There are not many opportunities to own a piece of history. For whisky enthusiasts, a new distillery is a rare opportunity, and to own a sample of one of the first distilling's even rarer. Within the business world, staying at the front of a client's mind is vital. Corporate gifting has become a modern day courtship, offering businesses the chance to impress and show clients, business partners and employees they are appreciated in a genuine and thoughtful way. With this in mind, Lakes Distillery is offering a 'once-in-a-lifetime' gift, ideal for those who wish to astound. A dram of the finest single malt whisky is the ideal way to seal the deal. Now imagine the dram was poured from your very own branded cask containing one of the first distillings from England's largest whisky distillery, a gift from a loyal customer or supplier. A very select group of just 60 whisky enthusiasts in the world have the unique opportunity to write their name in hist...
Read more