Chef Wise

With mussel season in full swing, now’s the time to get cracking on this recipe for moules frites with a creamy sauce enriched with Västerbottensost®. The aioli and homemade cheesy chips complete this heavenly supper, perfect for mopping up any leftover broth. A surprisingly simple recipe which combines the best of both French and Swedish cuisine, this is a dish that doesn’t skimp on flavour.     Known as the ‘king of cheeses’ in Sweden, Västerbottensost has been made using the same secret recipe since 1872.  It was made by accident one day when Ulrika Eleonora Lindström, a dairy maid, was distracted from her work by a romantic interlude which caused the cheese to develop its unique character. Västerbottensost is available to buy in Waitrose, Ocado and Selfridges.     For more recipes please visit http://vasterbottensost.com/en Moules Frites with Västerbottensost® Serves 4-6 For the mussels: 3 kg fresh cleaned mussels 1 litre cream ...

One of the hospitality industry's most senior managers has returned to his North East roots after joining the team at a top, five star hotel. Ben Hunt, originally from Yarm, who has more than 20 years' experience at some of the country's leading hotels, has been appointed Restaurants and Bars Manager at Seaham Hall Hotel and Spa, County Durham. Ben, 38, joins Seaham Hall from five star Luton Hoo Hotel, Bedfordshire, having also previously held senior positions at Calcot Manor, Gloucestershire, four star Crathorne Hall in North Yorkshire and Ashdown Park Spa Hotel, East Sussex. In his new position he will be responsible for ensuring the smooth running of the hotel's two AA rosettes Byron's Bar and Grill and the pan Asian Ozone restaurant within its award winning Serenity Spa. “It's wonderful not only to be back in the North East but to be at Seaham Hall,” said the father of one; a keen golfer and Liverpool FC fan, “as I've been watchin...

To mark the start of British Sausage Week (3rd -9th November), debbie&andrew's are launching what is believed to be Britain's first ever 'tweet to eat' sausage sandwich kitchen. Bringing A Real Taste of the Country to the city, debbie&andrew's pop-up kitchen will be at Finsbury Avenue Square for one day only on Monday 3rd November, sizzling up a storm in the city and offering Londoners the chance to enjoy a tasty sausage sandwich, with payment in 'tweets' rather than cash. Phil Vickery MBE, “I am proud to be an ambassador for British Sausage Week 2014. With a farming background and also being a keen cook myself British Sausage Week is a cause close to my heart. This year we are encouraging you all to join us in our celebration of Britain's sausages. Versatile, great tasting and also great value, sausages are the perfect option for the whole family to enjoy. So join me in celebrating the best of our British Bangers.” Along...

Escape the tricks of the witches, wizards and blacks cats this Halloween and instead indulge in a hair-raising stay at one of Best Western's haunted properties. From a stay in the most haunted city in the UK to an overnight in reputedly the country's most haunted hotel, Best Western guests can cast green gunge, frogs and toads aside and embark on a night of authentic spooky fun with sightings of mad maids, giggling girls and lovelorn teens with unfinished business. These eerie visitors to Best Western properties rarely pay their way but do offer added little extras to guests as things definitely go bump in the night! BEST WESTERN PREMIER Queen Hotel, Chester Ghoul hunters can take a trip to Chester and enjoy a stay at the BEST WESTERN PREMIER Queen Hotel. Opened in 1860 it is said to be one of the most haunted hotels in the country. Thought to be a former nursery, the second floor of the hotel is now rumoured to be home to 'the giggling girl' who is ...

Set your firework night off with a 'bang!' with these flavoursome Parma Ham jacket potatoes. Rinse and prick four potatoes, pat dry and rub in olive oil, salt, pepper and smoked paprika. Roast in the oven until cooked. Meanwhile, toss vegetables in olive oil and season well. Cook for the remaining minutes alongside the potatoes. Mix sour cream and smoked paprika, and place in split potatoes along with root vegetables, Lancashire cheese, spring onions, coriander and finish with slices of Parma Ham. Parma Ham is a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) product and is 100% natural. The drying process that Parma Ham goes through creates a ham that is very low in fat content, with many mineral salts, vitamins, antioxidants and easily digestible proteins. This means that Parma Ham is truly a food for everyone. Prosciutto di Parma is produced in the hills surrounding the Italian town of Parma. The unique taste of Parma Ham is dependent on the traditional...

River Cottage throw fabulous feasts for anything from 10 to 64 people. The 17th century Devon farmhouse transforms into an intimate, festive dining room, or the Threshing Barn opens up onto a beautiful decked area overlooking the breath-taking Axe Valley. After a tractor journey down the farm track you all come together to toast the festive period with a seasonal aperitif and a roaring log fire in our rustic yurt. You will be then be served delicious home- made canapés and dinner with all the trimmings. Sample Christmas Dinner Menu Canapés- Chorizo scotch egg; Devon brie on rosemary crumpets; parsley croquettes; seared chicken liver on toasted brioche Starter- Venison Carpaccio, mushroom ketchup & winter leaves Main- River Cottage Red Ruby beef, oxtail & kidney suet pudding, three root mash, beet tops & chard Dessert- Lemon curd crème brulee with hazelnut Florentines A 3 course Christmas lunch is £65pp and a 4 course Christmas dinner ...

A Boutique Coastal Retreat: The New Crescent Turner Whitstable - A new 18-bedroom boutique hotel with a unique beach hut on Whitstable Beach - Views out over the famed Oyster Beds of Whitstable - Evocative of JMW Turner's paintings such as the 'Seasalter Flats' The Crescent Turner Whitstable, a new 18-bedroom boutique hotel, opens this week in the historic market town of Whitstable . The Crescent Turner, perched atop Wraik Hill, boasts vistas over Whitstable town and out to sea, encompassing the famed oyster beds and then stretching out over the Isle of Sheppey. One can't help, when viewing the sights from the hotel, not to be reminded of vistas evoked by JMW Turner's apparitions, such as his painting of the 'Seasalter Flats' capturing a group of oyster dredgers at low tide. The Interiors Marilyn Bridgen, a local designer, has aimed to create a contemporary vibe whilst conveying the Kentish seaside within the hotels interior...

Give yourself the gift of a pre-Christmas break at the Headland Hotel and Spa Celebrate Christmas by the coast in a family-run Victorian mansion Let The Headland fill the lull between Christmas and New Year with 'Escape the family' break Blow away the cobwebs with New Year by the beach Experience the warmest of Cornish welcomes at the family-run Headland Hotel near Newquay this Christmas. The four-star Headland, an imposing Grade II-listed family-run Victorian spa hotel has something for every stage of the festive season. Many of the hotel rooms have sea views while spacious five-star Cornish village-style self-catering cottages with stone and granite walls are perfect for families. The hotel has a stunning cliff-top location above Fistral Beach with views of the Atlantic Sea which surrounds the hotel on three sides. Guests can wrap up for bracing walks along the wide sweep of sandy beach watching the dramatic rollers or indulge in one of the award-winning...

When you think of Christmas Markets, one country always comes to mind: Germany.  Wonderfully festive, German Christmas Markets are authentic with atmospheric squares decorated with fairy lights and pretty stalls selling hand-made gifts, crafts and toys, Christmas decorations plus spiced mulled wine and speciality foods. As Germany's largest privately owned hotel operator, MARITIM Hotels is well placed to highlight the country's top five Christmas Markets for 2014. 1. Dresden – best for history and heritage The oldest Christmas Market in Germany, dating back to 1434.  Known as Striezelmarkt, this Christmas Market is renowned for its festive charm, with stalls filled with traditional hand-made crafts and culinary delights, including sweet delicacy Dresden Christstollen.  A winter wonderland, the focal point of the Dresden Christmas Market is the world's tallest Christmas pyramid (with a height of 14m) and the world's biggest nut cracker, while the high...

There’s so much for the kids to love at Planet Hollywood this half term. Let’s start with their own special menu featuring the yummiest dishes EVER and it includes unlimited soda (coca-cola, diet coke, Schweppes lemonade, Fanta and still water) amazing value at just £8.95 for drinks, a main and a pudding. So what else is there for the kids?          Halloween weekend FREE face painting from 4pm – 9pm We always have a ready supply of crayons and colouring-in sheets Throughout the entire restaurant you will find huge multi-purpose plasma screens – where else can you justify letting your kids watch telly whilst they eat? Watch clips from trillions of Disney and other age-appropriate movies Sing along and watch music videos of the most exciting pop stars in the charts And over Halloween age-appropriate spooky movie and music clips from shows like Corpse Bride and Mad Scientist will have your table laughing and screaming trick or treat...

Max’s Kitchen always provides high-quality food, and the team will excel themselves with this menu Russ McKenzie, co-founder of IT specialists nTrust Systems, will be teaming up with his son and gifted chef Maxwell McKenzie to host a special dinner for the businesses of the Holmethorpe Industrial Estate, Redhill to catch up and get to know their neighbours. The dinner will be at 7:30PM on Thursday October 30 and is an ideal opportunity for Redhill businesses to network and enjoy themselves. It will be taking place at Max’s Kitchen, nTrust House, 26 Holmethorpe Avenue, Redhill, Surrey RH1 2NL, which is situated at the heart of the Holmethorpe Industrial Estate. The event will be run by the staff at Max’s Kitchen, all of whom have been trained by Maxwell McKenzie. Maxwell has six years of experience in the kitchens of Michelin-starred restaurants. The menu was developed by Maxwell and will showcase the skills of his young and ambitious team. The fayre ...

With the festive season upon us, add an Asian twist to the traditional party spread with these tasty Japanese vegetable tempura. Cooked in a deliciously light and crispy batter and dipped into a creamy home-made mayonnaise with an exotic yuzu tang, these tasty tit-bits make delightful finger food to accompany cocktails and conversation. Easy to whip up, but dressed to impress, this is a go-to recipe when guests arrive unexpectedly. The batter can also be used with whatever’s in the fridge, such as seasonal vegetables, prawns or even leftover turkey and Brussels sprouts! The Yutaka brand was first launched in 1995 and is the leading Japanese range in 16 countries across the globe. The exciting range includes sauces, sushi ingredients, soups, rice, noodles and “easy to use” meal kits – allowing the ardent foodie to create healthy, flavoursome and attractive Japanese cuisine at home. For more information please visit www.yutaka.co/en/ Vegetable Tempura with Hom...

From 8th November -14th December Christmas celebrations commence at Blenheim Palace. Visitors can expect a warm welcome with plenty of seasonal experiences, things to see and do. Blenheim Palace will be transformed by sparkle and splendour, as the theme for this year's decor will be 'Glitter and Gold'. The Great Hall, Saloon and Long Library will be decked with festive decorations throughout the Christmas period, and in the Great Courtyard Blenheim Palace's own trees will feature covered in lights. Visitors can learn more about Blenheim Palace's Christmas traditions with an exclusive talk and tour. 'Christmas – Past and Present at Blenheim Palace' is a journey from the Victorian era to the present. Guides will describe how current staff transform the Palace each November into a Christmas feast for the eyes. Families can enjoy the living statues in the Palace on the 15th - 16th of November appearing throughout the day; as well as Bletching...