Domestic Goddess is One Pot Cook Off Champion for 2008
The inaugural One Pot Cook Off Champion was announced at The Macdonald New Blossoms Hotel after a sizzling competition. This annual event highlights the passion Macdonald Hotels has in sourcing the best seasonal and local food available for its customers and the event, held at the St. John Street, Chester based hotel, also kick-started the seventh annual Chester Food & Drink Festival.
The winner, primary school teacher Bhupinder Virdee-Lace, will see her dish on the Snooty Fox menu at the Hotel. Bhupinder will also be presented with the prestigious Award at the Chester Food & Drink Festival at a ceremony over Easter.
More than 30 food lovers in the audience watched the Finalists present their dishes to the panel of judges. Bhupinder, 39, of Dicksons Drive, Newton, Chester, created chicken in a creamy tomato and courgette sauce and she only had one hour and could use only one pot to create the dish.
The other Finalists were Michele Dunkerley, 33, of Handbridge, who cooked Handbridge fish and prawn stew, including a white wine sauce with tomatoes, dill, lemon, potatoes and carrots. Michelle is a Maths teacher at Neston High School. Stuart Higgs, 61, of Tarvin, a retired RAF worker, created chicken and smokey bacon hot pot with a Cheshire cheese crumble. All of the amateur chefs were overseen by The Macdonald New Blossoms Hotel head chef Dave Halewood.
The audience also had a chance to meet the suppliers of meat and fruit and vegetables to The Macdonald New Blossoms Hotel, who were Ian Bruce, of Scotbeef Meat Packers Limited and Sarah Platt of Pauleys.
Kate Halewood, General Manager for The Macdonald New Blossoms Hotel, said:
“These are three talented chefs, who created tasty dishes. The blend of flavours in Bhupinder’s dish and its presentation won out in the end. This competition highlights the passion Macdonald Hotels puts into their food operation. Macdonald Hotels believes in sourcing the best produce available, including outdoor reared animals, such as corn fed chickens and organic food and vegetables. Coffee used is Fair Trade and milk is organic. We are delighted to be taking part in the Chester Food and Drink Festival for the first time and pleased that this will become an annual event.”
Bhupinder, who also won a complimentary weekend for two in the Master Suite at The Macdonald New Blossoms Hotel, said:
“I am really chuffed to have won The One Pot Cook Off competition. This was my take on meat and two vegetables; it will be great to see my meal on The Snooty Fox menu. Winning this competition helps me promote my love of food. I am working on a cookery book, featuring British produce, which marries Punjabi and British ingredients, aiming to give a cross culture fusion of food and am planning a cookery course at Bishops Heber School in Malpas starting 17th April.”
Stephen Wundke, chairman of the Chester Food & Drink Festival, compered the event and the judging panel included Jane Casson, of Made in Cheshire, Gail Wundke, development chef at The Groves and Pastarazzi, Mark Gilmore, Sales Manager for The Barton Meat Company Ltd and David Calderwood, executive chef at The Groves and Pastarazzi, who has worked with celebrity chefs such as John Burton Race.
The Chester Food and Drink Festival 2008 runs until March 25. Main events are held at Chester Racecourse on March 22 to 25 with fringe events around the city in its restaurants and bars.
Ends: 573 words
PHOTOS (300dpi plus), PRESS OFFICE & REGULAR UPDATES at http://www.marketingprojects.co.uk/clientpo/101/news Notes to editor: The Macdonald New Blossoms Hotel, located in the heart of the historical city of Chester, just off the main shopping street, and only a short walk from Chester’s famous Racecourse, provides the perfect place to stay no matter what the occasion. With 67 individual bedroom experiences, ranging from smart executive rooms to character feature rooms, four poster and suites, every care has been taken to combine the period charm of the building with modern luxury facilities. Macdonald Hotels & Resorts Limited operates 48 well-located hotels across the UK and ten resorts throughout the UK and Spain. The company employs over 4,400 staff and operates in excess of 3900 rooms.
First established in 1990 by Donald Macdonald and colleagues, the company was floated in 1996 on the main London Stock Exchange. In 2003, it returned to private ownership and was one of Scotland’s biggest public to private deals at a cost of £620m, which was wholly underwritten by the Bank of Scotland. The Bank now owns 50% of the equity with the remainder held by the management.
The Group’s focus is on developing its strong portfolio of four and five star hotels, with each offering its own character and individuality underpinned with the quality and attention to detail expected of the Macdonald brand. In particular, the company prides itself on the seasonality and provenance of its food within the hotels, from breakfast through to dinner, as well as its wide range of specially selected wines.
The Group has recently embarked on a programme of investment and refurbishment that includes properties such as Macdonald Blossoms in Chester, Macdonald Old England in Windermere and Compleat Angler in Marlow. In addition, the Group recently opened the Macdonald Portal Hotel Spa and Golf in Cheshire in July and the Macdonald Manchester Hotel, situated in the heart of the city centre, adjacent to Piccadilly Station in October 2007.
For more details visit: www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/blossoms/
Macdonald New Blossoms Hotel Contact: Lynn Hunter, Communications Manager
Mob: 07944 722631 Tel: 01506 815246 MACDONALD HOTELS Email: lynn.hunter@macdonald-hotels.co.uk Press Contacts: Phil Brotherhood Mob: 07884 493370 Tel: 01244 330000 MARKETING PROJECTS Email: info@marketingprojects.co.uk
Return to Macdonald New Blossoms Hotel listings
> Return to Client Press Office
