Our first two Chefs' Challenges together raised more than £10,000 for the designated charities and also helped boost school funds for the two venues. We would not have been able to achieve so much without the wonderful support of the professional people contributing to the shows, the band of willing volunteers working hard behind the scenes, and the goodwill of local businesses whose generosity boosted the fund no end - not to mention all the people who came along to the show and bought raffle tickets and auction prizes. We can't thank you enough.

Thursday 30th September 2010

On Thursday 30th September, Hampshire foodies gathered at Thornden Hall Performing Arts Centre in Chandler's Ford to enjoy a 'Ready, Steady Cook'-style chefs challenge starring teams of chefs from two of the region's top 4-star hotels - Hotel du Vin Winchester and Lainston House.

Hosted by Simon Clarke from Wave 105, the evening's entertainment started with the chefs demonstrating their signature dishes whilst taking questions from the audience, with all the tricks of the trade being followed closely on screen thanks to Thornden Hall's video technician, Ian Fraser, who volunteered his services.

For starters, Hotel du Vin Winchester's head chef Adam Fargin and junior chef de partie Craig Parsons created mi-cuit of Test trout with romesco sauce accompanied by parpadelle of courgettes and lobster bisque caviar, followed by roast rack of Hampshire lamb with sauté of rainbow carrots, pea cannelloni and pistachio & brioche stuffing. See recipes…

On the other side of the stage, Andy Mackenzie, executive head chef of Lainston House, and junior sous chef Chris Barnes prepared poached lobster with garden vegetable and shellfish vinaigrette, followed by organic lamb saddle with crispy belly, carrot puree and wilted greens. See recipes… Eight members of the audience who had earlier won a place at the chefs' tables then sampled the dishes and were asked for their feedback.

Having whetted everyone's appetite it was time for a break and refreshments. Complimentary canapés donated by Sainsbury's Badger Farm Superstore were served by the host of volunteer helpers during the interval.

Guests were also treated to savoury biscuits from Lyburn Farmhouse Cheesemakers, biltong from Baynhams butchers in Chandlers Ford, and mouthwatering miniature cupcakes from The Cupcake Girls.

Opening the second half of the show, Ian Nelson of Sunnyfields organic farm, who so generously provided the demonstration kitchens free of charge, presented the chefs with identical goody bags containing mystery ingredients for the second challenge, including a fillet of rose veal and a variety of vegetables and apples. The teams were then given 40 minutes to rustle up two new dishes, for a main course and dessert. See Andy Mackenzie's recipes… See Adam Fargin's recipes…

While the chefs were cooking their new creations, Simon Clarke got the charity auction under way. Lots of fabulous money-can't-buy experiences had been generously donated by local businesses and individuals, and equally generous members of the audience rose to the occasion, helping to boost the total sum raised substantially.

"The auction was great fun and very exciting. Congratulations to all of the team." Items up for grabs included a 'Lainston Comes to You' experience (Andy Mackenzie will be cooking a 4-course meal for eight people in the winner's own home); two places in the Hotel du Vin Winchester's Cookery School with Adam Fargin; Champagne afternoon tea for two at Lainston House; a stay in the best room at Hotel du Vin Winchester with Champagne dinner for two; a sailing day for 10 people on board a 45-foot fast cruising yacht with Philip Marshall Sailing; an Audi TT for a weekend, courtesy of Southampton Audi; and cheese-making tuition with Lyburn Farmhouse Cheesemakers in the New Forest; not to mention a behind the scenes visit for two to the Wave 105 studio, including lunch with Simon before watching his live afternoon broadcast. "We all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and we are looking forward to our Champagne dinner, bed and breakfast at HdV!"

When the 40 minutes were up, a fresh jury of tasters at the chefs' tables were asked for their opinions of the two veal dishes, and then the audience proceeded to vote for their favourite dish. The show of coloured cards followed, resulting in a draw and winning medals were presented to both teams by volunteer event organiser, Katy Metson.

The evening finished with a fun omelette-cooking contest between the two head chefs. Following a blind tasting by a member of the audience, Andy Mackenzie of Lainston House Hotel was declared the winner of the omelette challenge. "The chefs were entertaining as well as informative - It all looked fabulous. We went home and made an omelette!!!!"

The raffle brought the evening to a close. Prizes included Jimmy Choo sun specs courtesy of Rawlings Opticians in Winchester; a re-style with Guy Kramer at his award-winning salon in Winchester; beauty treatments by Katy Metson at The Garden Room in Otterbourne; £75 worth of Sunnyfields organic produce; a family ticket for Beaulieu, courtesy of Wave 105; two items from Jeremy France Jewellers of Winchester; four MOTs at Independent Car Sales & Servicing in Chandlers Ford; a wire cupcake holder and recipe book (coincidentally won by one of The Cupcake Girls!); two tickets for 'The Bohemians' Queen tribute show at Thornden Hall; a deli lunch for two at Cadogans & James of Winchester; a box of goodies from Waitrose; and a £20 Long Barn gift voucher.

No-one went home empty handed, as all guests left with a goody bag each. Photo Gallery Click here to see the pictures >

"Would just like to say how immensely proud I was to be part of the team to bring Chef's Challenge to fruition. What a fantastic, entertaining and truly, truly professional evening. With £8,400 raised for charity being the end result. Wow!" - Carl Pyatt (Manager, Thornden Hall)

Monday 12th July 2010

After weeks of careful planning and a few last minute arrangements, our Chewton Glen v Lime Wood Charity Chefs' Challenge went off without a hitch at Ballard School Performing Arts Centre in New Milton on Monday 12th July.

Hosted by Hampshire chef, Alex Aitken, and Chewton Glen's Chef Sommelier, Alan Holmes, the evening's programme provided live culinary theatre at its best, with fantastic dishes being created by Nick Hewitt and Oliver Marlow from Chewton Glen and Luke Holder and Richard Lloyd from Lime Wood (pictured here with Alex Aitken) and plenty of audience participation. £1,880 was raised for the two charities - Joseph Patrick Trust and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance.

	Ballard School's auditorium made the perfect setting for our first Ready, Steady Cook-style Chefs' Challenge, starring teams from Chewton Glen and Lime Wood - two of the UK's most prestigious 5-star hotels. Granite Transformations of Lymington kindly supplied and built the kitchen with its stunning granite worktops, free of charge, giving the chefs a great showcase to work on.

Part of the Hampshire Food Festival, the evening was a celebration of cooking with fresh local, seasonal produce and Michelin starred Alex Aitken and renowned Chef Sommelier, Alan Holmes, co-hosted the proceedings with masterly flair. Luke Holder and Richard Lloyd of Lime Wood got the show off to a great start, with two mouth-watering dishes, 'Sea Trout with Basil & Courgette Puree' and 'Venison with Coffee & Beetroot'. See recipes…

	For each course, two lucky members of the audience whose ticket numbers were drawn out of a hat were invited to sit at the chefs' table to sample the fabulous food and taste the fine wine chosen Alan Holmes to complement that dish. "Well done! It was a brilliant evening. We all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, especially Beverly, who had a dinner date thrown in!" Louise W.

It was a lovely informal evening, with Alex, Alan and the teams of chefs answering questions throughout the show. Ian Nelson of Sunnyfields in Totton was invited to take to the floor for five minutes to talk about organic food and farming, making it very much a local affair.
A party from Oakleaf in Bournemouth were also in the audience. And although members of Deloitte in Southampton were unable to attend, the company gave a very generous donation toward the fund. There were plenty of willing volunteers on hand to help everything run smoothly, including Alan and Valerie from the Joseph Patrick Trust.

	Delicious canapés were served during the interval, courtesy of Waitrose in Christchurch. Guests also had the opportunity to sample scrumptious homemade cheese straws and biscuits made with Lyburn farmhouse cheese, as well as fresh olives, sun dried tomatoes and balsamic onions from Food For Thought delicatessen in Ringwood.

Roger Leppard, Sherie William-Ellen, Kirsty Watts and Mike Gregory (Aircrew Paramedic) from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance did a sterling job selling raffle tickets on the night.   Following the break, Nick Hewitt and Oliver Marlow from Chewton Glen demonstrated their dishes created specially for the event - 'Local Plaice Braised in New Forest Cider' and 'Jelly and Ice Cream'. See recipes…

At the end of the show everyone had the chance to vote for their favourite dishes by holding up a green or red card. The result was too close to call and so was declared a draw. The evening finished with a fun omelette-cooking contest. A member of the audience was asked to adjudicate and Chewton Glen won the omelette challenge by a whisker.

	Medals were presented to all contestants and then the raffle prizes were drawn. After the acknowledgements, everyone went home with a goody bag.

Summing up the event, volunteer event organiser, Katy Metson, said, "I really can't begin to thank everyone enough for their support, from Alex, Alan and the wonderful chefs who took to the stage, to all the people working behind the scenes, who contributed greatly to the success of the show - especially Rachel Spackman (Ballard School) and Angela Day (Chewton Glen) - not forgetting those who helped to promote it, including Sophie Boxhall, Hampshire Fare's PR & Marketing Officer. They're all stars!

Big thanks also to the local suppliers and businesses who made the evening's entertainment extra special, and to all the people who bought tickets.

To watch a video clip of Katy's introduction at Ballard School on 12th July, click here.

Click here to see the gallery >.

 

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