Last week saw The Chefs’ Forum Demo Stage host a series of cookery demonstrations at The London Produce Show, celebrating fresh produce from some of the best chefs in the country. Master Chef of Great Britain, and Chefs’ Forum Committee Member, Peter Gorton introduced each chef and compared their dish. Show visitors and members of the media were treated to a round the world trip of culinary excellence from Nikkei cuisine to Chinese delicacies from Jeremy Pang, Michelin-starred lamb bacon to Kentish Knickerbocker Glory!
Chef Forum Members Graham Garrett (West House), Jordan Sclare and Michael Paul (Chotto Matte), Matt Budden and Gareth Bowen (Marriott Hotels), Paul O’Neill (Berwick Lodge), Dan Kennedy (Kent Cookery School) and Hari Ghotra (HariGhotra.co.uk) all took to the stage to showcase their dishes incorporating fresh produce from the show.
The London Produce Show
Grosvenor House was the stunning venue in London’s Mayfair that saw over 1600 fresh produce aficionados and chefs flood into the busy show to enjoy a ‘vegfest’ of pandemic proportions, with over 128 stands filling the venue to showcase the very best in world produce.
The attendee list covered every continent of the world and exhibitors showcased produce from every category. A fantastic range of UK and international produce buyers from the retail, foodservice and wholesale sectors were given unrivalled access to the deliberately limited number of exhibitors, both during the exhibition and at a series of equally well-attended networking occasions.
Educational seminars and workshops, chef demonstrations, an extensive student programme and tours to industry locations in and around London provided further opportunities to meet, share and learn from some of the world’s fresh produce thought and practice leaders.
The Chefs’ Forum demo stage
The chef demonstrations were organised by The Chefs’ Forum and took place on its purpose-built demo stage (illustrated top) showcasing Cooktek Induction, a UNOX Combi Oven and an Adande refrigerated drawer unit.
This was an ideal opportunity to involve Chefs’ Forum members and give them a chance to demonstrate their respective cooking styles and menus whilst ‘Celebrating Fresh’, the main ethos of The London Produce Show.
Roux Scholarship winner 2013, Paul O’Neil, Executive Chef at Berwick Lodge, Bristol really enjoyed demonstrating his Summer Vegetable Salad at the show, commenting:
“I’ve had a great time here today, this show is amazing! I’ve seen Passion Fruit from Mexico, and touched and tasted produce I’ve never seen before in all my years as a chef. The demo stage was a joy to cook on and the Cooktek induction is the stuff cheffy dreams are made of – I’d like some of that in my kitchen. I can’t wait to come back next year and do it all again.”
Indian chef and teacher, the fabulous Hari Ghotra, brought the humble cauliflower to life with her fantastic demo of Gobi Masallum; Whole Cauliflower roasted in a spiced sauce and cooked in the UNOX oven. Here’s a film of her experience at the show:
The Chefs’ Forum demo stage is available for hire for any events and Chefs’ Forum members interested in performing paid cookery demonstrations should register their interest with Chefs’ Forum who are regularly approached by shows for demo chefs.
If you are interested in hiring the demo stage complete with audio visual equipment and crew for your own foodie event, contact Catherine Farinha for further information 07585 700030 or email Catherine@redcherry.uk.com.