Chef Wise

The St Ermin's Hotel's newly appointed Executive Head Chef, Alexander Boyd introduces his inspired new a la carte menu at their triple AA rosette, Caxton Grill. A delectable collection of seasonal dishes, made using the finest local ingredients; each item on Alexander's innovative menu is beautifully presented, offers superb flavour combinations and contrasts and is of course, cooked to perfection in the restaurant's signature Josper grill. Utilising the St Ermin's Hotel's brand new roof kitchen garden – home to a variety of organic fruits, vegetable and herbs, Alexander's new menu was designed with provenance in mind: From light bites such as Burrata cheese and St Ermin's plum tartar crisp breads, to colourful starters such as Scottish salmon and grapefruit, or mains including fresh monkfish with pea puree, pancetta and pearl barley – topped off with a fresh pea, lemon and mint salad – each dish showcases the very best of the quality ingredi...

Santa Maluco has some of the rarest rums in Liverpool and for that matter the UK thanks to co-owner and collector John Ennis. From his far-flung foreign travels, John has searched high and low for the best and rarest rums and Maluco now stocks what was his own private collection which is available from this week in recognition of National Rum Day. John said: "Rum's syrupy sweet flavor, tropical spice tanginess and strong association with tiki drinks, means it's the quintessential summer spirit. "Given our al fresco dining offer on Castle Street in Liverpool, it made good sense to launch my collection on National Rum Day especially as the weather suits it perfectly...watching the world go by with a rum and a Brazilian Rodizio pizza." John's favourites include: Ron zacapa xo £10 Ron Matusalem 7yrs £5 Ron brugal siglo de oro £10 Ron varadero 15yrs £10 Ron barcelo imperial £5 Ron Santiago de Cuba 11yrs £10 If you want to ...

The Bell Inn is proud to announce they have appointed Dave Basher as their head chef. Having worked at The Bell Inn for two years, Basher has taken over the role after the previous Chef decided to follow a new career path outside of catering. At 36, Basher is highly experienced having worked in a kitchen since the age of 13 and has worked in restaurants in and around the area for 16 years, including the Captain's Club and The Jetty (Christchurch). As a local family-owned business, The Bell Inn is open for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner and has a reputation for supporting local suppliers. Dave has built up a strong supplier network of local growers giving him the freshest ingredients for his creation of seasonal dishes. He will make his stamp on the menu by reinventing old classics, with a twist. In his spare time, Dave lives on the Hampshire/Dorset border with his partner, young son and two gun dogs and enjoys typical New Forest pursuits including fo...

Both The Apple Tree Restaurant and The Apple Tree Farm Shop at Brimsmore Gardens in Yeovil have been awarded Gold once again in the Taste of the West Hospitality and Retail Awards 2016. This is the fourth year running that the Farm Shop has achieved Taste of the West's top awards and the third year in a row for the restaurant. The judges heaped praise upon The Apple Tree Farm Shop, for its wide range of products from the south west, reasonable pricing and knowledgeable and friendly staff.  The local and seasonal sourcing in The Apple Tree Restaurant was also applauded and judges were particularly impressed with how the menu lists each producer and how the Farm Shop is used as a larder for ingredients. Cath Collins, group food manager (above left), explains; “Yes, we did it again! The teams at Brimsmore Gardens really do go above and beyond to understand the products that we sell in the Farm Shop and the food and drink that we serve in the Restaurant, so it's abs...

Since 2014 The Gallivant has introduced a series of gourmet evenings with world renowned British chefs including Tom Aikens, Richard Neat, Marcus Eaves, Andy McFadden and Henry and Matthew Harris, firmly establishing the Camber bolthole as a hub for the finest dining on the South Coast. We are delighted to announce that Michelin starred Graham Garrett will be taking over the kitchen at The Gallivant, for one night only, on September 19th 2016. After a previous career as a successful rock musician, Graham's defection to cooking may be music's loss but it was without doubt the food world's gain. Having worked for both Nico Ladenis and Richard Corrigan, Graham gained great experience as head chef of some wonderful restaurants and has also cooked for government and royalty, having been fortunate enough to cook at both 10 Downing Street, and also to cater a private dinner for Her Majesty, the Queen of England. Graham bought The West House in 2002, and has hel...

A restaurant in the Highlands has beaten eateries across the country to be named the Regional Winner for Scotland in the Good Food Guide Local Restaurant of the Year Awards. The Whitehouse Restaurant, in Lochaline has been nominated by its customers to be the top local choice in Scotland, despite its remote location. The Whitehouse Restaurant is described by the Good Food Guide (GFG), which is published by Waitrose, as being “about as remote as you can get without leaving the mainland”. Its address makes it one of the hardest to reach restaurants ever to have won a GFG award. Diners travelling from outwith the local area will most likely have to take a ferry. Owned by Sarah Jones and Jane Stuart-Smith, The Whitehouse prides itself on cooking with locally sourced ingredients. Salad and vegetables are grown where possible in their own garden and they also source food as locally as they can, including lobsters from The Isle of Mull, which is just across the water. One happ...

The refurbished Abergavenny Arms in Frant near Tunbridge Wells is to host a four-day beer festival over the August Bank Holiday, from Friday 26th to Monday 29th August. The highlight of the event will be live music in the pub garden with a hog roast on the Sunday. During the festival the imposing 16th century pub, which is open all day for food, will serve 18 different beers. These will include many local craft beers and guest ales from around the UK and beyond. “For me, the final bank holiday Sunday of the summer is the best day of the year,” said pub landlord Richard Burrell.  “Party all day with no work to worry about the next morning – except for us poor pub workers.” A popular destination for beer enthusiasts, the bar normally offers no fewer than six hand pulled ales from Kent and Sussex brewers, such as Harvey's Best, Tonbridge Coppernob, Long Man's American Pale Ale and Best Bitter, Larkin's Traditional and Dark Star's Hophead.  Also stocked ...

The Engine Room Restaurant at Poundbury Gardens near Dorchester has been awarded Silver in the Taste of the West Hospitality and Retail Awards 2016. Up against stiff competition from around the region in the Restaurant category, The Engine Room, which was described by judges as a “well patronised restaurant”, was commended for its “friendly and welcoming staff and delightful desserts.” Cath Collins, group food manager, explains: “The kitchen and front of house team deserve a huge pat on the back for their continued hard work in achieving this accolade. Our head chef and front of house manager, Dan Vaughan, regularly takes the team to visit our local suppliers, to give them a better understanding of what is being served in the restaurant, and this really does make the difference. After seeing how the produce is made and having the opportunity to taste it, they bring this knowledge back to the restaurant so they can advise customers and give well-considered recommendations. T...

Devon is renowned for its exceptional culinary gems. People travel from all over the country, and further afield, to taste some of the county's outstanding offerings. There's a new force to be reckoned with on the national food map, Devon's Deer Park Country House Hotel has just announced that Hadleigh Barrett has come on board as the new head chef. Hadleigh, a classically trained chef in French cuisine, has a vast wealth of experience having previously worked at the luxury five-star hotel, Pennyhill Park and L'Ortolan, a gourmet restaurant run by John Burton Race.  Returning to his roots in Devon, Hadleigh was head chef at the Combe House Hotel for 14 years before joining the Deer Park Country House Hotel. Mark Godfrey, managing director at the Deer Park Country House Hotel, says: “We're thrilled to welcome Hadleigh to the Deer Park. We have been creating something here that's truly outstanding and now we've just put the icing on the cake. H...

ONE of Birmingham's oldest buildings which played a major role in the city's industrial development on Gas Street is being brought back to life thanks to Bistrot Pierre. The independent French restaurant group is sympathetically refurbishing the former headquarters of the Birmingham Canal Company into a new bistrot restaurant which will be opening on 1 July 2016. More than 150 years ago boats passed underneath the building carrying materials such as coal into the city, canal network tolls were taken from the boats within the building's vaults, which were eventually bricked up in the 1970s.  Rob Beacham, co-owner of Bistrot Pierre said he was proud to be opening a restaurant in one of Birmingham's most historic buildings. “This stunning building has such a fantastic story to tell; we're proud to restore it and keep the city's rich heritage alive,” he said. “Formally a hub for the city's transport industry, the building played a maj...

Koh Thai Tapas restaurant will open its latest site in the Hampshire market town of Romsey on 28th July. Romsey is the group's third restaurant in Hampshire – and 11th in total. Kevin Marsh from Savills acted on the deal. The opening comes within weeks of launching its Koh Noi concept in Winchester in June. A 12th site is expected to open later in the year. With 80 covers the new Romsey restaurant features the iconic features of a Koh Thai Tapas venue. The popular concept has become known for its vibrant hand painted murals, ornate fretwork and the prominent wooden clad bars. The latest opening has created 15 new jobs in the town. A food-led business, the tapas offerings allows customers to sample several exquisite smaller dishes. These include the '24 hour ribs', tender juicy pork ribs marinated in n a rich, jealously guarded secret sauce; a fiery but fragrant 'Jungle Curry of a thin sauce with Thai herbs, green peppercorns and sliced red chillis; and t...

Brimming with berries, Battenberg and bubbles, The Queens Arms' selection of afternoon teas are set to be the toast of Somerset this Afternoon Tea Week, as the award-winning pub serves up an irresistible combination of traditional British decadence and handpicked produce from its own kitchen garden and smallholding. Whether enjoying a traditional Full Afternoon Tea, a Royal Treat Champagne Afternoon Tea or a G&TEA, served with gin and tonic, visitors can tuck into a triple-tiered tower that measures its ingredients in metres, not miles. From finger sandwiches filled with cured ham from the pub's smallholding or salad from its kitchen garden, to handpicked berries and scones baked onsite by the kitchen team, afternoon tea at The Queens Arms is a tasteful tribute to the Somerset countryside, served with lashings of Chantilly cream. Afternoon tea is served daily at The Queens Arms from 3pm to 5:30pm and is available from £12.50 per person. A Royal Treat Champag...

Landmark bar, restaurant and event space on Water Street to host official launch party on July 14th. District House opened its doors today as part of a soft launch period which will culminate in its official launch on July 14th. With an expansive event space for up to 600 guests plus a unique cocktail bar concept, the restaurant offers breakfast & brunch from 8am-3pm, an express lunch menu from 12 noon-5pm and dinner from 5pm til close. Highlights from the menu include avocado with cherry tomato crostini and teriyaki chicken from the small bites menu, smoked salmon ballotine stuffed with crab & cream cheese with caviar &  dill oil, seared tuna Nicoise salad, sesame beef with Asian veg & noodles and quinoa with shitake mushroom, crispy kale & goat's cheese croquette. Directors of Know Restaurants Water St, Steven Hesketh and Andrew Duckworth are the joint management team behind the project which has created 60 jobs and seen a total of £1m ...

THE FRENCH restaurant group, Bistrot Pierre, officially opened its fifteenth bistrot on Friday (1 July) in one of Birmingham's oldest buildings – located on Gas Street. Having opened their first restaurant in Nottingham more than 20 years ago, school friends and business partners Rob Beacham and John Whitehead are delighted to be opening in the UK's second city. “This has been a long time coming and we're really looking forward to welcoming Birmingham's diners to our newest location,” said Rob. “The Grade II listed building is steeped in history, having previously been used as the headquarters for the Birmingham Canal Company – playing a vital role in the rich history of the city.” Bistrot Pierre received a significant investment from private equity firm, Livingbridge, in 2015 to support its expansion plans – and Birmingham's bistrot is the first of many new openings since this cash injection. John said: “We believe very strongly in maint...

Vintage Salt Upper Street Office Lunch – 2 courses for £12 They say fish is the ultimate brain food and that it is better for you to leave the office at lunchtime, so we've produced an Office Lunch for the workers of Islington, Highbury and surrounding areas. Our Office Lunch is available Monday to Friday from 12pm to 4pm and includes our London famous Fish & Chips in addition to lighter salads, grilled sardines and a roast chicken salad. The £12 price tag includes generous refills of London based Ozone Coffee and Rare Tea Company Tea. Office Lunch: Mon – Fri: 12pm – 4pm: 2 courses for £12, add an additional course for £3.5. Book online or walk in. Set menu. Vintage Salt Upper Street presents #UpperStreetBrunch Brunch, the meal that has no rules, just got even better at Vintage Salt Upper Street. From 11am to 5pm on Sundays, enjoy bottomless bubbles along with our 2 course brunch menu for just £30. Highlights from the brunch menu include Spiced a...

Stoke Newington is getting an early Christmas present this year, in the shape of an innovative, new pub, The Stoke Newington Tea house, which opened its doors on Friday 11th December. Known for doing things a little differently, owners Yummy Pub Co. are presenting the latest addition to their teeny, tiny, beautiful boutique pub company, bursting onto the high street with a reinvented version of the Great British Pub, complete with a tea twist. And in the run up to Christmas the team will be giving away 1,000 cups of tea in random acts of kindness, surprising strangers, family and friends with a welcome brew. “Where there is tea, there is hope,” the famous words from London playwright Arthur Pinero ring true at the pub, where there will be a plethora of delicious brews from around the globe, as well as a specialist cocktail list of tasty tea tipples. A significant non-feature is the bar – there isn't one. There's still a plentiful amount of drink options on o...

Delicious Dining has opened the doors to its latest restaurant, Tapas Barcelona in the heart of Southampton this week. Located in the newly developed Cultural Quarter the uniquely styled restaurant offers customers an authentic Spanish dining experience in the heart of the city. Set over two levels, the restaurant comprises a large downstairs bar, dining area with an open kitchen and paella kitchen along with an upstairs Mezzanine lounge bar. With influences from Spanish-speaking kitchens from around the world, the menu features many favourites including Iberico ham croquetas, patatas bravas and mouthwatering paella along with a wide range of vegetarian and gluten free options. Overlooking Guildhall Square and flanked by larger national chains Tapas Barcelona is part of the independently owned Delicious Dining group, based in Southampton. The 5,000sqft venue features a traditional design with a twist. Four large back lit wall hangings and lanterns create a w...

Giggling Squid, the popular UK Thai restaurant group is to accelerate its expansion plans following a £6.4m investment from BGF (Business Growth Fund), the UK's leading provider of growth capital to small and mid-sized businesses. Giggling Squid, which has a portfolio of 13 sites across the South of England and the Midlands, will use the BGF capital to open more branches of its family of successful restaurants. Giggling Squid intends to break new ground and enter the London suburbs inside the M25, building on its new site in Esher set to open on Thursday next week. BGF has taken a significant minority equity stake in the business and has introduced Simon Kossoff, Chairman and former CEO of Carluccio's, to the company. Simon has joined the board as non-executive Chairman and Jon Simon, Investor at BGF, also joins the board. Giggling Squid serves fresh, rustic Thai cuisine at lunch and dinner and also offers takeaway services. Headquartered in Guildford, t...