Henley Food Festival

[Hearno]

Hope this is in the right forum, apologies if not.

Thought I'd copy a press release I have just received about the Henley Food Festival on May 16 and 17 - a top line up of chefs and producers.

Henley's only 40 minutes from London so it's pretty accessible, and it looks like being a great event for anyone interested.

The final line up of chefs demonstrating at the 2009 Le Cordon Bleu Henley Food Festival on 16th & 17th May has been confirmed.  Containing a mixture of local, national and international stars, boasting Michelin Stars, a vast range of TV appearances, books and talent to spare, this year’s crew is a mouth watering prospect.

Fan’s of  TV’s Great British Menu, Saturday Kitchen, Market Kitchen, Return to Tuscany or Heaven’s Kitchen will be familiar with many of the star names. John Campbell, Daniel Galmiche, Atul Kochaar, Jason Atherton and Alan Murchison have all been seen on our screens recently.  Mary Berry is one of the world’s best selling cookery writers while Paul Clerehugh, Tom Kerridge and Mike North represent the very best that can be found around Henley.

UKTV Food’s Market Kitchen have also confirmed that they will be coming to the festival on Saturday 16th May, with their own mini kitchen and popular winner of Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen in 2002, chef Aaron Craze. Who has just written a book called Aaron Cooks Italian.

Giancarlo Caldesi will be performing a double act with Italian TV charmer Gino d’Acampo on Sunday, while both will be found in Giancarlo’s “Caldesi A’Amici in Campagna” arena. And on both days game cook Mike Robinson will demonstrate all the skills needed to skin and cook fresh game.

Other highlights include a stupendous patisserie display by Julie Walsh of Le Cordon Bleu cookery school and the final of the amateur chef cook off challenge, judged by Mike Robinson and chef instructor Stuart Connibear from festival sponsor Le Cordon Bleu.

Festival organizer Chris Barber commented, “We are very excited about the quality of the chef demonstrators this year, as are all the chefs.” Chris who was personal chef to HRH Prince of Wales for 11 years and went on to say, “Knowing many of the chefs as I do I am confident that we will be seeing cooking of the highest order in all its forms. I will be there to do the introductions but I would recommend that visitors get to the demonstration theatre  early to ensure a good seat as all the demo’s are bound to be popular.”

The full line up plus more information about each of the demonstrators is below:

Saturday 16th May Description

11.00 Mary Berry One of the UK’s best-known and respected cookery writers, a TV cook and Aga expert. Mary has written over 70 books selling over 50 million copies around the world. www.maryberry.co.uk

11.45 John Campbell Possessor of two Michelin Stars for The Vineyard at Stockcross near Newbury. John combines complex elements into dishes that look and feel simple and natural. www.the-vineyard.co.uk

12.30 Phil Howard Co-owner and chef at The Square in Mayfair where he holds two Michelin Stars. www.squarerestaurant.org

1.15 Mike Robinson Renowned for his appearances in Heaven’s Kitchen the story of his pub the Pot Kiln, Mike is passionate about wild food and game. He also runs his own Game and Wild Food Cookery School. www.gamecookeryschool.co.uk

2.00 Daniel Galmiche Charming Frenchman and Executive Head Chef at The Forbury in Reading he achieved a Michelin Star while chef at Harvey’s in Bristol. www.theforburyhotel.co.uk

2.45 Jason Atherton The first British chef to complete a stage at Spain’s famous El Bulli restaurant he is Executive Chef at Gordon Ramsey’s Maze where he won a Michelin Star. In 2008 Jason won the starter and main course competition in the BBC’s Great British Menu. www.gordonramsay.com/maze

3.30 Atul Kochhar Innovative Indian chef, revered for his masterful use of spicing and owner of a Michelin Star for his restaurant Benares. www.benaresrestaurant.com

4.15 Julie Walsh From the Le Cordon Bleu, Julie is a master chef and expert in pâtisserie, she will be creating an Artisan Chocolate Centrepiece. www.cordonbleu.edu

5.00 Alan Murchison Alan runs two Michelin Starred restaurants, L’Ortolan in Shinfield, Berkshire and La Bécasse in Ludlow, Shropshire. His first book Food for Thought has recently been published to rave reviews. www.lortolan.com

5.45 Paul Clerehugh Owner and chef of The Crooked Billet in Stoke Row, widely regarded as one of the best foodie pubs in the country, Paul also owns the London Street Brasserie in Reading. www.thecrookedbillet.co.uk

6.45 Amateur Chef Cook-Off Final After weeks of intense competition the two amateur finalists go head to head.

Sunday 17th May

11.00 John Campbell  Possessor of two Michelin Stars for The Vineyard at Stockcross near Newbury. John combines complex elements into dishes that look and feel simple and natural. www.the-vineyard.co.uk

11.45 Mike Robinson  Renowned for his appearances in Heaven’s Kitchen the story of his pub the Pot Kiln, Mike is passionate about wild food and game. He also runs his own Game and Wild Food Cookery School. www.gamecookeryschool.co.uk

12.30 Adam Johnson  Development chef to Raymond Blanc at Le Manoir aux Quait’Saisons. www.manoir.com

1.15 Theo Randall Following ten years as head chef at the River Café, Theo now runs his own London restaurant, Theo Randall at the InterContinental, where he cooks seasonal Italian food. www.theorandall.com

2.00 Remy Joly Head chef at myalacart, winner of Restaurant of the Year in the recent Pride of Reading awards, Remy specialises in seasonal British food. www.myalacarte.co.uk

2.45 Jerome Leopold Jerome is head chef at The Castle Restaurant in Hurst where he combines an understanding of local and seasonal ingredients with a heap of Gallic charm. His menu’s are all about simplicity, value and seasonality. www.castlerestaurant.co.uk

3.30 Mike North One of the youngest winners of a Michelin Star for The Goose in Britwell Salome, Mike is now chef proprietor at the Nut Tree Inn in Murcott near Oxford.

4.15 Tom Kerridge  Chef proprietor of the Michelin Star Hand & Flowers in Marlow, described by The Guardian as “…the epicentre of Marlow’s food revolution.” www.thehandandflowers.co.uk

5.00 Giancarlo Caldesi & Gino D’Acampo Two Italian chef’s of the highest calibre, Giancarlo runs his own cookery school plus restaurants in London & Bray. Gino has just launched his new book Buonissimo. www.caldesi.com

www.ginodacampo.com

These details are correct at time of writing but are subject to change.

Advance tickets and more information about the 2009 Le Cordon Bleu Henley Food Festival can be found at www.henleyfoodfestival.co.uk