A Southeast Asian Feast for the Senses at Blue Jasmine

Located in the exclusive Ocean Village Marina development in Southampton, Blue Jasmine is a fine dining restaurant specialising in refined, imaginative and intricate Southeast Asian cuisine.  You would think that you were in Miami, looking out on the beautiful marina vista of luxury boats and yachts, flanked by giant cruise ships.

The Blue Jasmine concept was created and nurtured by leading Malaysian Chef Consultant, Daren Liew, who himself hails from Penang. Penang, famous for its street food is a delicious cuisine genre, born of a mix of traditional Malay, Chinese, Indian and Peranakan influences.

Daren has honed his skills in leading kitchen roles in high-end and Michelin kitchens including Hakkasan London and Duddell’s London.  Daren also has a strong high-end international hotel background, with Four Seasons and Mandarin Oriental being among the five-star luxury brands he has worked for.

This wealth of experience led him to start his own consultancy and Blue Jasmine typifies the elegant, high-end offer to which he has set his bar.

So where did the inspiration for such an impressive menu come from?

Blue Jasmine follows a simple philosophy: to serve Southeast Asian gastronomy that’s been beautifully elevated to fine dining standards, always giving a nod to the finest seasonal produce. This ethos carries through every aspect of the luxurious restaurant, from the waterside location to the precision with which each of the dishes is expertly-prepared, plated and served.

Last weekend was the MDL Boat Show, hence the reason for our visit, but every year, we make a beeline for the show and always dine at Blue Jasmine – It has become a Chefs’ Forum tradition!

Everything about Blue Jasmine screams opulence, style and grace. Blending superb cuisine with stylish interiors, the waterside restaurant offers an enchanting fine dining experience.

Upon arrival, we were greeted by General Manager, William Tan. We were shown to the best seat in the house, overlooking the marina, which was full of superyachts and luxury pleasure boats and adorned with bunting and flags for The MDL Marina Boat Show – What a stunning location?!

We were shown around the restaurant and just loved the interiors; plenty of wood, marble and electric blue, marine and turquoise tones can be seen around the spacious restaurant and bar, which is split into areas boasting trendy feature lighting and a range of seating styles.

A private dining room holds a large table, so shiny it could be a mirror, comfortable armchairs and a screen for that special intimate event or celebration. The interior was designed by the owners who have done an incredible job, from the glassware and plates to the overall aesthetic, which houses a welcoming and electric and vibrant atmosphere.

We are very adventurous in terms of loving to explore new cuisine types and love nothing more than letting chefs surprise us with new dishes that we’ve never tried before.

William was delighted that we entrusted him and Executive Chef, Chris Tan to send the newest and seasonal dishes out for us to photograph and try.

We set up the camera in readiness for what was going to be the feast of a lifetime, with each dish executed and presented to perfection.

William also served a duo of fabulous signature cocktails to really give us the star treatment and truly make the evening feel like a rare ‘child-free’ special occasion:

La Buni

Michter’s Rye Whiskey, Benedictine, Drambuie, cranberry, absinthe

William expertly poured La Buni into a delicate lead crystal tumbler at the table, with smoke dancing from the decanter, like a scientific experiment, all adding a real sense of flair and  theatre.

Purple Ocean

Stolichnaya Elit vodka, butterfly jasmine cordial, prosecco

This pretty, mauve-coloured cocktail (hence the name) was elegantly served in a champagne flute, further adding class and exquisite sophistication to the light and refreshing flavour combination.

A new dish; Flamingo lotus root with chilli, garlic and liquorice was then served by William to refresh our palate for the gastronomic adventure on which we were about to embark.

The lotus root (a first for us) was lightly-pickled and tinted with delicate pink hues which lends itself to its avian name.

An amuse bouche of a trio of crispy bon bons, filled with salty egg and shrimp then followed.

The signature dish of Sarawak black pepper roasted duck and pancake then ensued and was a real showstopper in our opinion; An elevated version of the classic crispy duck, reinvented in a labour of love that came together to combine a symphony of flavours and textures.

Recommended to share between 2-4 guests, the roasted duck goes through a seventy-two-hour journey in the kitchen.  After marinating in a blend of spices, the duck air-dries using ancient methods and is then smoked in cherry wood containing natural sugars, producing a caramelised layer on the skin.

This slow process provides a delicious duck with crispy, delicate skin and succulent meat. Following the lengthy process in the kitchen, the duck is accompanied on the plate by homemade pancakes, baby cucumber, fresh leek, and a hand-crafted condiment using hawthorn jelly.

Not just your typical duck with pancakes, the Sarawak black pepper roasted duck with pancake is a world-renowned dish with a selection of Southeast Asian spices including the famous Sarawak black pepper found only in the deep forests of east Malaysia.

The texture of the duck is like something we have never experienced – It was silky smooth and incredibly lean, and the skin retained all of the beautiful flavours of the marinade. The black pepper sauce added a kick, while the sweet jelly added a sweet element. The skin was so moreish, that it completely disappeared – it was too delicious to leave. This is the best duck pancake dish that we have ever tried and we’ll definitely be back for more!

Having told William that I love beef and, food photographer ‘Mr Click UK’ loves fish, we were then treated to a trio of delectable dishes:

A new dish of ‘Nostalgia Prawn’ with a passionfruit mango jelly, apple plum sauce and maltose glaze.  These huge South African crustaceans could easily be mistaken for lobster and the flavour and texture is superior and sweeter in my opinion.  The prawns are effortlessly de-shelled by William at the table and set on the plate with the head adjacent (as we all know that is where all the flavour collects and yes… we did make sure we savoured every bit).

Also making its debut on the spring menu is Honey lemon Chilean sea bass (or Patagonia Tooth Fish as it hails from the North Atlantic) was delicate and flavoursome and happens to be one of our favourite species.  The athlete of the sea had a meaty texture and the marinade was deliciously sweet and tangy at the same time, with all the flavour notes of garlic, lemongrass and honey.  We loved the accompaniment of new season asparagus, really lifting the presentation and celebrating fabulous local produce.

Our final main was another newcomer of Black pepper sautéed diced beef tenderloin with Malbec.  This delicious medley of wok-seared beef tenderloin cubes with red onion garlic crisps, gingo nuts, Sarawak black pepper sauce and Malbec wine – All of our favourite ingredients in the one dish – Beautifully presented and highly recommended.

Our dessert was a plated selection of hand-crafted amenities that really were the perfect end to a perfect evening; The centrepiece was a cute little meringue bunny rabbit, adorned with delicate biscuit stars, marshmallow raspberries and Koppert Cress micro basil and edible flowers to contrast the berry flavours – This was lovely and light and a wonderful finale to our Southeast Asian gastronomic adventure.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank William, Chris and team for their wonderful hospitality and excellent food.  We’re already planning our next visit when we come down for the Southampton International Boat Show, on from the 13^th-22^nd September.

In an exciting news updates, Chef Daren Liew has now moved on to open his own restaurant in London’s Knightsbridge, which is set to open next month.

The exclusive new opening will be called Nanyang Blossom and will showcase contemporary Nanyang cuisine, which is an exciting and delicious fusion of Singaporean and Malaysian cuisine.  This will be Daren’s first restaurant that he is opening as a partnership and we’re very much looking forward to visiting him once it is open and wish him the very best of luck.

For more information on Blue Jasmine or to view the entire menu, please visit www.bluejasmine.co.uk

Photography by Carlos Farinha. 

Aussie Wagyu Masterclass

Aussie Wagyu masterclass – the fat or lean debate.

West London College played host to an amazing Aussie Wagyu masterclass this week where two eminent chefs tested various cuts of lean and fatty Aussie wagyu to see what styles added value and taste.

To kick things off there was a butchery demonstration by chef Paul Greening and Ioannis Grammenos who showed how cutting sirloin into blocks rather than steaks offers a different approach and a new price point. Stephen Edwards from Meat & Livestock Australia and Marcella Williams from AAco then gave a Wagyu presentation.

Stephen Edwards said “Wagyu has a high density of intramuscular fat marble, rather than fat on the outside. We grain feed the wagyu which produces a higher intramuscular fat giving it a buttery flavour. Australia is the largest wagyu exporter in the world, even selling to Japan!”

The main event was the cooking and tasting with chefs Paul Greening, an International Chef Consultant and Ioannis Grammenos of Heliot Steak House creating very different styles that really showed the versatility of Aussie Wagyu and showed how different cuts needed a different approach.

In his segment Greening worked with feather blade and bavette to create:

Tataki of Aussie Wagyu feather blade, beer mustard zuke, truffle butter ponzu and wasabi furikake

Aussie Wagyu bavette spicy tartare, with Japanese herbs, kobayashi crisped rice and smoked cherry wood tosazu

Paul said “I’ve been using Australian Wagyu for 20 years; the consistency is incredible and flavourful. It lends itself to many ways of cooking and is halal so opens up to a wide range of customer base.”

Following on Ioannis Grammenos, worked with flat iron steak, sous-vide bavette, chuck tail flap and sirloin to create:

Aussie Wagyu flat iron with English asparagus and amba sauce

Aussie Wagyu sous-vide bavette, with portobello mushrooms, Greek yoghurt and Romesco sauce

Aussie Wagyu chuck tail flap and Aussie Wagyu sirloin served on a hot stone

Ioannis said “Australian Wagyu has a high price tag because its exceptional, it is free-range and this makes it different from Wagyu from other countries. My favourite is grade A5 Wagyu as it’s balanced between not too buttery and not too lean. I am grateful that Australian Wagyu is available in the UK for our guests to enjoy.”

Wine for the event was sponsored by Brown Brothers – Innocent Bystander Pinot Gris and Innocent Bystander Syrah.

Michelle’s Marvellous Molecular Masterclass

What do you get when you combine a group of talented young hospitality and catering students, one inspirational pastry chef and a selection of premium high-quality Sosa ingredients?

A Molecular Gastronomy masterclass like no other.

Michelle Gillot, UK Sosa consultant and private pastry chef, returned to Bradford College this Wednesday to deliver another compelling Chefs’ Forum Academy masterclass. Combining the chemistry and physics behind the culinary process with the artistic skills of plating, the students were truly in for a treat!

Several different scientific reactions were explored during the session, in which the students worked together to create different elements utilising the incredible ingredients made available by Sosa. These included: white chocolate powder rocks, apple semi gel, meringue, vegan mayo emulsifier and a potato airbag.

Speaking of the range of ingredients, Michelle said “I’ve been the UK Sosa consultant since 2011, I love the range, their products allow a chef to create more modern dishes that are less sweet, with less fats, resulting in more flavour. The products help with the ever-demanding dietary requirements of customers while respecting the raw ingredients. This works to speed up production, reducing working hours in the kitchen and allowing a chef to push the boundaries with food, both savoury and sweet, for a more sustainable future.”

She also shared her delight at working with the Level 3 students from the college, saying “The group were a pleasure to teach, very keen to get hands on and get creative with the new techniques they were shown, while grasping the theory and the ‘how and why’ of molecular gastronomy.”

Chef lecturer Andy Bray offered some words on his continued support of the monthly Chefs’ Forum Academy masterclasses delivered to his students, “What a fantastic session delivered today for my level 3 students. Michelle and The Chefs’ Forum team have delivered again.  The sessions are such a great benefit for the students.”

The college will be continuing on a high note next Thursday – with Exose Grant, MasterChef: The Professionals 2019 Finalist, who will be delivering a stunning 4 course guest chef evening to 40 VIP guests, supported by the college’s gifted Hospitality and Catering students.

Burgers, Beats and Culinary Brilliance at South & City College Birmingham

Year 8-11 school students enjoyed a brilliant taste of hospitality on Tuesday courtesy of South & Central College Birmingham. The special taster day included a build-a-burger section by chef Richard Wainman from Dick’s Smokehouse in Bromsgrove, ably assisted by Chefs’ Forum Brogen’s little brother Kenzie Bryan.

The Hospitality Industry Taster Day, put on by The Chefs’ Forum Academy is a great way of engaging feeder school students and introducing them to the delights of hospitality with national professionals putting on masterclasses.

The free morning was sold out and started with a Canapé & mocktail reception followed by burger building and an interactive cookery demo with Dan Hadland from Highbury Hall. Following that Chris Alexander, Executive Chef at Restaurant Associates, gave a demonstration on the art of plating and then it was time for lunch before Tom Everard-Fairburn from Two Brothers Bakery got the students working again with a choux pastry and éclair decorating competition.

Vince Wetherell, Sales Director at MCS Technical Products showcased CookTek Helios induction hobs and taught the students how the technology works, bringing science, technology and maths into the event, which made the teachers happy.

Yasmine Sahib and Ruby Mitchell from King Edward VI Northfield School for Girls won the competition with a perfectly filled and creatively decorated éclair that impressed the judges and won them a £20 voucher to spend at Dick’s Smokehouse.

Catherine Farinha, Director of The Chefs’ Forum, said: “Our Taster Days are an excellent way of getting school students to get involved with catering and see how working as a chef can be a rewarding career. The fact that we had a burger building part just made it all the more special. All the students could relate to it. In turn, that got them interested in the finer details that our other chefs brought. All in all it was a great morning.”

Sheri Cadwallader, Senior Technician from South & City College Birmingham said: “This was our second Taster Day with The Chefs’ Forum and we can see how much it engages with students in a new and different way. These mornings are fun and there’s a real sense of theatre. Couple that with good cooking and it’s a great recipe for increasing awareness of our courses. 10/10.”

Film and photography by Carlos Farinha.

Kerridge’s Sous Chef Wins Roux Scholarship

Karol Ploch, sous chef at Kerridge’s Bar and Grill in London, became the 40th Roux Scholar in a thrilling final held at the Alain Roux Culinary School at The Waterside Inn on Monday. Ploch won at the first attempt.

His winning dish was centred around the compulsory poached rainbow trout and Carlingford oysters. Every Roux Scholarship final contains a fixed ingredient that six finalists must then interpret.

Ploch said: “I tried my best. I poached the trout in a champagne and oyster sauce with some blanched asparagus. The cook-off was stressful at the beginning but when I started cooking I focussed on the jobs to do. It was three hours but it went very quickly; it’s best to just focus on yourself and work with your commis. The timings went well, everything was on point and I’m very glad it went this way.”

This was the first time that the final had been held at The Alain Roux Cookery School and The Chefs’ Forum were given an exclusive preview in advance.

Editor Chandos Elletson, said. “I have worked with The Roux Scholarship many times and it is a wonderful competition that continues to give and give. There is nothing like it and the next generation of Roux chefs, Alain and Michel Jnr, are doing a great job taking it forward. The Alain Roux Cookery School is a fitting place to hold a final – it lacks for nothing. Indeed, you could say it is the ultimate kitchen.

Alain Roux said: “It felt fitting to hold the final at the birthplace of The Scholarship – my father’s former home, now the Culinary School. We have a very worthy winner and a great scholar and someone who will carry the torch for another 40 years.”

On winning Karol Ploch said: “It’s an amazing feeling, but overwhelming too. It’s been an amazing day – all the finalists were very close to each other, all the dishes were very good. I’m just glad mine came out well. I’m excited for the future.”

Michel Roux Jr said: “Everyone cooked to their potential and delivered the goods. We had some individuality in the cooking of the sauces and with the garnishes too. With the amazing produce we gave them we were a little surprised we didn’t see a bit more individuality. It was a very hearty debate to choose a winner and Chef Keller brought a lot to the discussion which was why we wanted him at the 40th anniversary. His wise words were taken on board.”

In his role as Honorary Presidents of Judges, Thomas Keller led the judging panel alongside joint chairmen Alain and Michel Jr, who were joined by Vice-Chairman Brian Turner CBE, Sat Bains (1999 scholar), André Garrett MCA (2002 Scholar), James Martin, Clare Smyth MBE and Emily Roux.

Chef Keller said: “Congratulations to this year’s Roux Scholarship winner, Karol Ploch from Kerridge’s Bar and Grill in London, and congratulations to all the talented competing chefs today. Your expertise, patience and commitment to your craft are evident. You should be extremely proud of the work you displayed today. Thank you to my fellow judges, it’s been an honour to participate in the 40th Anniversary of the Roux Scholarship – an incredible milestone for the UK’s young culinarians and a scholarship that has impacted generations.”

Karol Ploch was competing against the following chefs: Harrison Brockington, Gather Restaurant; Ben Miller, Alex Dilling at Hotel Café Royal; Jordan Randerson, The Elephant, Torquay; Liam Smith, Restaurant Pine, Newcastle-upon-Tyne; Evelina Stripeikyte, The Glenturret Lalique, Crieff.

The winner was announced at an exclusive awards dinner at Coworth Park, where Roux Scholar 2012 Adam Smith MCA is the Executive Chef. In attendance was a small audience comprising the finalists’ guests, sponsors and judges, with the ceremony live-streamed via The Roux Scholarship website and YouTube channel.

The winning chef receives £6,000, with an additional £6,000 awarded if they stay with their current employer for 15 additional months. Theyhave the choice between two different star prizes: the invitation to cook and train under the supervision of a leading chef at a prestigious three-star Michelin restaurant anywhere in the world for up to two months; or a bespoke training programme tailored to the chef’s ambitions, skills gaps and interests. This is in addition to an impressive list of prizes and culinary experiences provided courtesy of our sponsors.

Blaise-Inn Squad!

The Chefs’ Forum is a big family and we like to visit as many of our supporters as possible both to check-in and discover how they are doing.

So, it was with great pleasure when we arrived at Bristol’s Blaise Inn (Henbury) – The home of former Harvey Nichols chef Louise McCrimmon.

Louise has been a supporter of The Chefs’ Forum since the start in 2010 and her food is always a joy: Simple, expertly put-together and always delicious.

She lost her job with HN during the pandemic and for a while was at a loss as to what to do next. However, you can’t keep talent from shining for long and Louise took over Bristol’s The Blaise Inn at the end of 2021.

Two years after opening and the pandemic firmly in the rear view the business is going strong.

Over lunch we tasted a cross-section of the menu. A pint of prawns was classic as was the deliciously-light pea and mint soup. A starter of Gorgonzola panna cotta was well-judged.

Main courses that featured were the outstanding onglet served with great fries and a salsa verde. We also tried the hake and a superb crispy belly of lamb, which as a more forgotten cut was an absolute joy as we tried it for the first time (we’re still talking about how delicious it was).

For dessert we had to try the Wye Valley rhubarb jelly, which told us that Spring is finally here, with a short but delicious season spanning March to July – Perfection on a plate.

Afterwards Louise commented that though trading was still tough the menu was not too difficult to get out with just her and two chefs in the kitchen.

“The skill is in what to put on the menu,” she told us. “A great example is the onglet steak. It’s easy, not too expensive and very popular. I can’t take it off! I learnt a lot cooking at Harvey Nichols and translating that style for The Blaise Inn had resulted in a very nice restaurant for our locals.”

“We wish Louise well,” said Chefs’ Forum Director Catherine Farinha. “It’s great to see our early supporters doing well and continuing to teach the next generation. If you’re in the Bristol area make sure to pop in.”

Porter & Vadis Awarded at Public Sector Catering Awards

Neil Porter, a twice chair of LACA (Local Authority Caterers Association) took home a long-deserved Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2024 Public Sector Catering Awards. Chairing LACA more than once is rare with only three people who have had the honour.

Porter’s most celebrated period as chair of LACA was from 2008-2009 when he was faced with the aftermath of Jamie Oliver’s school meals TV onslaught. He was first chair of LACA from 2004-2005.

Since 2008 Porter helmed LACA’s Events Group which oversees LACA’s showpiece annual conference Main Event. During his tenure the event grew in importance and added new elements such as Finishing Touches, the final of the School Chef of the Year (SCOTY) and the Grab & Go Challenge.

Chef Nick Vadis of Compass won the Special Contribution Award for helping to build the NHS Chefs Academy. He also played a big role in The Healthcare Chefs’ Knowledge where his expertise and drive fused with his knowledge of healthcare really made a difference to our new book.

King’s College London, however, was the biggest winner on the night. They took home the University Award, the Sustainability Award and the Health & Nutrition Award. Plus, catering team member Lisa Connellan was this year’s Unsung Hero.

The full list of this year’s winners:

• Armed Forces Caterer of the Year Award (sponsored by Ecolog): POCS Cat Taylor – Royal Navy
• Care Catering Award (sponsored by Cereal Partners): Care UK Food and Hotel Services
• Catering College Award (sponsored by Young’s Seafood): Cambridge Regional College
• Catering Manager of the Year Award (sponsored by Rational): June Cormie – Education Catering
• Chef of the Year Award (sponsored by Unox): Kath Breckon – NYES Catering (North Yorkshire Council)
• Contract Caterer of the Year Award (sponsored by Lockhart Aggora): Cleverchefs
• Education Catering Award (sponsored by Premier Foods): Downham Market Academy Catering Team
• Health & Nutrition Award (sponsored by Bidfood): King’s Food Team – King’s College London
• Hospital Catering Award (sponsored by Pelican Procurement Services): Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
• Innovation Award (sponsored by Birds Eye Foodservice & Green Cuisine): Compass Group One Retail Team
• Marketing Award (sponsored by Wafflemeister): Shire Services
• Special Contribution Award (Middleton Foods): Nick Vadis – NHS Supply Chain: Food
• Sustainability Award (sponsored by apetito): King’s Food Team – King’s College London
• Team of the Year Award (Essential Cuisine): Sodexo and DIO teams based in Cyprus
• Training & Apprenticeship Award (sponsored by Brakes): Andrew Cullum – Avery Healthcare
• University Catering Award (Sponsored by TUCO Foundation): King’s Food Team – King’s College London
• Unsung Hero Award sponsored by Civica): Lisa Connellan – King’s College London
• Lifetime Achievement Award (sponsored by Unilever Food Solution): Neil Porter

Top Chefs Shine on The Chefs’ Forum Demo Stage at HRC

Showgoers, celebrity chefs and suppliers all praised the culinary delights of The Chefs’ Forum demo stage at HRC. From Top Chef Brasil and top London College to hotel exec chef and MasterChef: The Professionals, The Chefs’ Forum had culinary excellence in spades.

The Chefs’ Forum stand featured food from across the UK and the globe with specialist equipment from Unox, CookTek and MCS Technical Products and ingredients from Brakes, Royal Greenland, Saucery, Carita Coffee and BelOrta.

However, it wasn’t all about the food! The Chefs’ Forum team was celebrating the launch of the latest Chefs’ Knowledge book: The Healthcare Chefs’ Knowledge, produced in association with NHS England.

Copies of the book were on display and many guest took the opportunity to dip into the colourfully designed pages created by in-house Red Cherry designer Lee Yarlett.

The chefs at work were:

• Bob Carruthers – WEST LONDON COLLEGE
• Exose Grant – MASTERCHEF: THE PROFESSIONALS FINALIST
• Mark Irish – BRAKES
• Matt Budden – HILTON BOURNEMOUTH
• Martyn Watkins – LAKSA SHACK
• Luciana Berry – TOP CHEF BRASIL WINNER

Isle of Man Food Producers’ Showcase

The Chefs’ Forum was delighted to support with hosting a special event at The Museum of London Docklands on the 26th March to showcase the best of Isle of Man food and drink. Hosted by Business Isle of Man, an Executive Agency with the Isle of Man Government’s Department for Enterprise, the event was in the same location where a series of Dragon’s Den was once filmed.

Minister for Enterprise, Tim Johnston, Member of the House of Keys, welcomed guests to the showcase where an array of canapés, cocktails and Manx food and drink producers awaited. The Chefs’ Forum invited global chefs, suppliers and industry influencers to the evening party which was a great success. Of special mention is the Island’s unique status as the world’s only entire nation biosphere and how the producers from the Island pledge to support and preserve this unique status.

Tim Johnston MHK said:

‘The Evening Showcase provided a great platform for Manx food and drink exporters. We were extremely pleased to welcome so many notable guests to our event and the level of interest in the Isle of Man and Manx produce was both heartening and motivational for the businesses involved.’

On display in the form of exquisite eats were the famous Manx Queen scallops. These were both pan-fried and served as a ceviche.

Nick Pledger, Business Development Manager at Island Seafare said:

“It was great to come to London and showcase our seafood to a fantastic range of chefs and foodservice suppliers.  Our famous Manx Queen Scallops were beautifully pan-fried and were also served as a Ceviche.  Our Manx crab salad also proved extremely popular and we’re really excited about forging a supply chain to top chefs across London and beyond.”

Other highlights created by top tier event caterer, Bovingdons Catering, were the small plates served, including a cheese soufflé with cheese from The Isle of Man Creamery. The Biosphere burger and lamb bon bons from the award winning Isle of Man Meats, famous Manx Queenie scallops served two ways – Pan-fried and Ceviche, as well as a crab salad from Island Seafare. Cocktails were mixed to great acclaim from gin and rum supplied by The Fynoderee Distillery and Outlier Distilling Company. Beer was from Okell’s Brewery, including recent award-winning alcohol free pale ale, Zero and salt from Isle of Man Salt Co.

Isle of Man Salt Co spokesperson, Helen Crosbie said:

Helen Crosbie

“Truly honoured to have been part of this event hosted by Business Isle of Man. It was an evening full of positive conversations and wonderful food showcasing the Isle of Man’s incredible food and drink producers. It was great to have the chance to chat all things export and business development with everyone in the beautiful Museum of London Docklands/Dragon’s Den studio.”

An exquisite Isle of Man Creamery cheese board and Luxury Manx Ice creams from Davison’s completed the evening’s delicious menu.

MasterChef: The Professionals Finalist, Exose Grant said:

“The Manx Queenies were outstanding and paired well with the other ingredients, it was great to have the scallops served two ways to showcase their versatility. The lamb bon bon was tasty and had a great mouth feel, the souffle was light and fluffy and the burger was delicious. The crab salad was fresh and flavourful, I could’ve eaten more and more!”

On the menu:

• Island Seafare Manx Queenies served two ways
  • Panfried queen scallops with burnt cauliflower puree, toasted pinenuts and pea shoot cress
  • Ceviche
• Manx Lamb Bon Bon with pea puree, crispy kale, heritage carrot and Barolo jus
• Cheese Souffle mini double baked Isle of Man Creamery cheese soufflé and pomegranate salad
• BIOSPHERE BURGER Isle of Man biosphere beef sliders with gherkin, smoked cheddar and red pepper ketchup
• Premium Cheese Collection with all accoutrement: Isle of Man Creamery vintage, mature, cracked peppercorn and smoked oak cheese
• Manx Crab Salad (quenelle) with baby gem chiffonade and sourdough crostini, Mini Double baked cheese soufflé and pomegranate salad
• Davison’s Luxury Manx Ice cream served in mini cones

Spencer Jones, Head of Sales from Ritter Courivaud, a trained chef who cooked at Michelin level was also really really impressed with the produce, said:

“We’re always on the lookout for new and special producers to add to our range. The delicious and faultless canapés produced by the talented Bovingdons chefs really showcased the Manx producers in the way they deserved. The crab salad for me was a true star of the show with the fresh scallop dishes and mini beef slider coming so close, that I couldn’t possibly pick a favourite. My Director of Food, Wayne Haukman and I were also blown away by the cheeses from the Isles of Man Creamery and will definitely be continuing discussions re: supply- Huge congratulations on a fantastic event to all concerned.”

Manx Cocktails served by award-winning Manx mixologist Drew Fleming from Extra Fancy

• Gorse Reviver – Fynoderee Manx Spring Gin, gorse flower triple sec, Lillet Blanc, lemon verbena and lemon

• Manx Daiquiri – Outlier Hoolie Manx White Rum, Overproof Rum, lime and sugar

Catherine Farinha, Director of The Chefs’ Forum, said:

“Because of our unique reach into global chef networks we were able to invite a true cross-section of culinary artists and this worked really well. Everyone enjoyed the range of ingredients and tastes that the Isle of Man has to offer and it was clear that kitchens across London and the UK will benefit from including them in future menus.”

Luciana Berry, Top Chef Brasil Winner, said:

It was real pleasure to be at the Isle of Man showcase, I discovered a new world of ingredients. Their rum was something very spectacular, used to make Manx Daiquiri. Absolutely stunning! The pan fried scallops served with the cauliflower puree was very smooth and delicate – A very elegant and delicious way to start. The crab salad was so fresh, I couldn’t stop eating it. It paired very well with the Gorse Reviver cocktail made with their gin and triple sec. Very well balanced.

I love seafood and to have this amazing and fresh seafood was incredible. Also the cheese was incredible. I love the smoked oak cheese with peppercorn.”

You Said Tomato And We Gave You A Show!

Rubies that shone like diamonds

The full taste explosion of the Ruby Red tomato was demonstrated on the BelOrta stand at the International Food & Drink Event last week at Excel.

Though the season is yet to start in the majority of Europe BelOrta’s object of delight – the exquisite Ruby Red – was showing all its promise.

Getting sweetness into a tomato out of season was previously impossible but with Belgian company BelOrta, the future is now.

The Ruby Red is a small gem of ripe tomato flesh with good sweetness and flavour and was a hit with the chefs on demo duty.

Over the three days of the show chefs Danny Burns, Luciana Berry, Bob Carruthers, Martyn Watkins, Exose Grant and Nick Vadis all enjoyed the Ruby Red and what it brought to their dishes.

Luciana Berry, Top Chef Brasil winner, said: “I loved the Ruby Red tomato. Where I come from in Brazil we have amazing tomatoes but these small little gems from BelOrta were fabulous in March. They had great colour, taste and texture and out of season were nothing short of amazing.”

Nick Vadis, Culinary Director for Compass UK and Chef Ambassador to The NHS was very impressed with the Ruby Red tomatoes from BelOrta, he said

“I chose to do a take on a caprese salad with burrata, basil oil and pickled onion slices, which proved a real hit.  It was also a great opportunity to tell the audience about the health benefits of tomatoes. The flavour of  BelOrta tomatoes is so delicious, that you don’t really have to do much to them – A lovely ingredient!”

Exose Grant was equally impressed with the Ruby Red tomatoes and opted to make an impromptu sauce with all of the offcuts from his demo and people were asking for the recipe card…unfortunately we didn’t have one as he made the beautifully spicy sauce on the spot in a culinary mega mix with all of the chefs cooking-up a delicious lunch.

Didier Lepoutre, Supervisor for Market Development and Expansion at BelOrta said: “A big thanks to Red Cherry and The Chefs’ Forum, the best brand activation company we’ve ever worked with – and that’s saying something. We take our tomatoes all over the world and Red Cherry really understood what we wanted to achieve at IFE and they certainly delivered.”