Fertile Cheshire Plain
A chef who creates gourmet meals at a pub near to Chester showed a packed Taste Marquee how to cook using local produce.
Robert Kisby, who is Executive Head Chef at recently opened The Cock O’Barton near Farndon, cooked braised Cholmondeley pork rolled in oatmeal from Crewe, which was cooked in cider from Eddisbury near Frodsham, with Cheshire cheese gratin and asparagus.
In the afternoon demonstration, Robert cooked a seasonal plate of Cheshire belly of lamb in a Lancashire hot pot, using Cheshire potatoes, apples, cider and onions.
Robert Kisby said: “I have come to the Chester Food and Drink Festival to champion local produce. Since I’ve moved to Cheshire I have done a lot of work to bring local products together. I am championing foods within the region of 50 miles from Cholmondeley Estate. You get more taste from fresher, local produce, with Cheshire potatoes, apples, onions and cider from Eddisbury Fruit Farm. Cheshire sits on a wonderful belt of land with salt beneath, which creates one of the best milk plains in the country and the best potatoes in the UK. We have so much flavoursome product here because this piece of land is sweeter and the grass gives the lamb a sweeter flavour.”
Robert has won many awards for his outstanding contribution to the catering industry. Formerly Manchester based, Robert has worked at the Midland Hotel, Bridgewater Hall and latterly he opened Le Mont at Urbis in 2002. He has been named Life magazines’ North West Chef of the year 2004 and Le Mont was awarded Restaurant of the Year 2003.
Robert’s recipes can be found at www.chesterfoodanddrink.com and for more details of produce that is made in Cheshire please visit: www.madeincheshire.com
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Editors Notes:
Robert agreed to take charge of the Kitchen of the 400 year old and newly renovated Cock O’ Barton pub, in the village of Barton, south of Chester in October 06, which opened on December 22, 2006. He hopes to create opportunities for future success with his new employer in what Robert describes as “a Gourmet’s dream restaurant in a modern pub”
Background
The Taste Marquee contains over 100 retailers and growers with samples of Cheshire, North Wales, national and international produce, reflecting the cosmopolitan nature of Cheshire. Highlights include a chocolate fountain, icecream, wines, beers and liqueurs, pies, roasts and game, sausages, watercress, olives, juices, organic products and hundreds of taste experiences. Family tickets are £12, adults £5 and concessions £3.50.
The Food and Drink Fringe Festival is taking place around the City from April 6 to 15, 2007 with special events, restaurants, bars and hotels all helping to make Chester the focus of food and drink within the UK, with theme nights, special family offers and accommodation promotions.
The Gala Awards Dinner will ensure 250 people sample a gourmet menu sourced from leading producers in the North West and celebrates the best of the region. This is on Tuesday April 10 2007.
Chester’s Food and Drink Festival is organised on behalf of Chester City Council with support from the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), Visit Chester & Cheshire; the tourism board for Cheshire and Warrington, Cheshire County Council, Made in Cheshire, North West Fine Foods and the Rural Recovery Fund.
2006 Visitor Survey 16,000 people visited the Taste Marquee and £90,000 was spent there over the three days. - 51 per cent of visitors came from a distance of more than 25 miles, making a total of 8,000 people brought into the City. - 78 per cent of people surveyed said the event was good or excellent. - 87 per cent of people surveyed said they were likely to return. - Nearly 100 producers and exhibitors were on show in the Taste Marquee, bringing their own skills and produce from Cheshire and around the world to be part of the Festival. - There were seminars and competitions in micro brewing, wines, sausages and cheeses and the opportunity to taste local paté, black pudding, bread, cereals, oils, pies, meat, fish, cheeses, chocolates, liqueurs and even a juice bar.
Festival brochures will be available across the City from March. Phone 01244 351609 for more details. For further information on the region go to www.visitchester.com. More general information at www.chesterfoodanddrink.com
Press Contacts: Jane Harrad-Roberts Mob: 07785 395705 Phil Brotherhood Mob: 07884 493370 Tel: 01244 330000 MARKETING PROJECTS Email: info@marketingprojects.co.uk
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