He started the show in style, cooking Huntsham Farm suckling pig with stuffed hispi cabbage, morels, pickled walnut & The Grill’s chips with gravy mayonnaise. Here's his recipe.
Being the opening demonstration of the day must have been quite something, but Tom took it in stride. He said, other than it being a "bit early for a Monday morning on my day off," it was "super good, and that the audience were amazing."
Tom was followed by Tony Parkin, the head chef of eponymous Michelin-starred restaurant at the Tudor Room. Tony's recipe was a stunning combination of Monkfish, smoked eel oil and nasturtium. He was helped on stage by his sous-chef Tim Sheed.
Tom Booton's Huntsham Farm suckling pig, stuffed hispi cabbage, morels, pickled walnut
& The Grill’s chips with gravy mayonnaise
Third to the stage was the chef-owner of Michelin-starred Salt in Stratford-Upon-Avon, Paul Foster. He prepared an Earl Stonham Wagyu with bone marrow butter and a salad of brassicas. Here is his recipe.
Paul Foster said it was nice to get out of the kitchen and come down to London.
Each of the chefs' appearance on stage was followed by a Q&A, when audience members were invited to question the chefs on stage, from practical cooking tips to their thoughts on the importance of apprenticeships, how to progress in a role within a kitchen and how to get a Michelin star.
Overall both the audience and the chefs alike lauded today as a success.
Paul Foster said, "I don't think you notice how much you miss it until you're actually here. Yeah, I think, shows like this are really important for our industry."
Chef Jean Delport and his pastry chef Dean Stucky mid demonstration
Adam Knights, marketing director for Rational, said that it was great to see people out and about again. It was also good to be able to interact with the audience directly. He said, "it's just to show we're there for chefs and that's why we like working with the Staff Canteen."
Callum Strong, one of the students from Milton Keynes College helping out the chefs, said, "It's been pretty exciting working alongside top chefs such as Tony Parkin. I'm intrigued by all the dishes they create and I'm privileged to be working with them."
Ben Piette, co-owner of Maison restaurant, discussed how much he had enjoyed the day and seeing what the chefs had to show. He said, "it gives you a good insight of what the restaurant is going to be like and what the ethos is of that restaurant."
The lucky raffle winners who will soon enjoy a meal for two
at Salt, pictured with Paul Foster
Speaking about the young chefs attending the event, Paul said, "I remember being a commis chef and coming to shows like this and watching chefs on stage and wanting to connect with them. Sometimes they come to a restaurant and they're a bit nervous - don't want to talk to you - but this environment is really good for them to just be inspired."
Visitors can click here and register now for a free ticket to the show.
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