Monday, 3 October 2011

Platinum Recruitment – Feature of the Month

Each month the team at Platinum Elite Chefs bring you an industry specific feature from one of the UK’s finest establishments.

This Month’s feature:

Daniel Galmiche – Executive Chef - The Vineyard at Stockcross – Berkshire
5 Red Star Five Stars- 3 AA Rosette Three Rosettes - Relais & Châteaux

This month I have the great pleasure of welcoming Daniel Galmiche to our Monthly recipe feature. Daniel has kindly taken time away from his role as Executive Chef at the stunning ‘Vineyard at Stockcross’ to put together a recipe for one of his signature dishes.

Along with his extremely busy schedule ensuring the continued success of The Vineyard, Daniel has just seen the launch of his first book, the ‘French Brasserie Cookbook’ - published 1st September 2011. Daniel has also recently launched his personal website which went live on the 6th September – To view, please click the following URL www.danielgalmiche.co.uk

Find out more about Daniel in our 60 seconds on the clock feature.........

Daniel, where in the world are you from?
I was born in Lure in the Comte region of Eastern France – A wonderful place.

Where have you previously worked?
Many places such as Le Gavroche under the tutelage of Michel Roux.
Posts in Portugal, Singapore and Scotland (awarded Master Chef of the Year in Scotland gaining a Michelin Star) I have achieved the award of a Michelin Star at Harvey’s in Bristol where I was Chef/Manager, I maintained the coveted Michelin Star at L’Ortolan near Reading and also regained a Michelin Star at the Cliveden House in Berkshire.

Which chef influenced you the most?

It would have to be Mr Michel Roux Senior when I worked at the Gavroche. His approach on food, his dedication, consistency and passion just gave me the will to have the same dedication, ethos and passion.

What/where was your best ever meal?
I am afraid there are too many to quote- I have had several wonderful meals worldwide

What’s your favorite cookbook?
It would have to be mine. I have just finished my first ever cookbook ‘French Brassiere Cookbook’ which is now out on sale. I am extremely happy and proud of this achievement.

What is the next restaurant you want to visit?
It would be Gordon Ramsey’s Royal Hospital Road in London; I would be very excited to go there.

What’s your favorite produce to cook with?
Definitely fish- I love it! It is so delicate, versatile and so beautiful

Who would be in your fantasy brigade?
This is a difficult question as there are so many people I would choose. I think the following people would have to be part of my team. Billy Connolly, Raphael Ibanez, Michel Roux Senior, my team here at The Vineyard of course, my son, my wife and Roger Federer!

Where would you go on a stage?
Definitely not for me, I am now passed that age

If you weren’t a chef what would you be?
I can’t imagine me not cooking but if I wasn’t a chef I would have liked to have been a photographer for the national geographic

What would be your advice to anyone looking to get into the industry?
I think it’s really important to be very passionate about cooking and to love food. This will then show in your dishes and help you go further.

For more information on Daniel Galmiche and The Vineyard at Stockcross, check out the Hotels website www.the-vineyard.co.uk

Daniel, it’s a real pleasure to have you feature with Platinum Elite Chefs, a huge thank you for taking time away from your busy day, good Luck with the book launch!

If you haven’t had the opportunity to try Daniel’s stunning food yet why don’t you try and recreate his Saddle of Venison dish.

Enjoy!!

See you next month

Andy

Saddle of Venison with Butternut Squash and Duxelle of Mushroom Tartlet and Butternut Squash Pureé

Serves 4

Ingredients

• Venison
• pancetta – thin slice – enough to wrap each loin – 200g - total
• venison (saddle, fillet) 4 piece of loin each 200g
• olive oil

Method
Lay a piece of pancetta on a board. Trim the venison into fillets and roll the venison onto the pancetta (roll tightly).
Seal the venison and pancetta then cook in the oven at 56 ºC for 45 minutes.

Jus
• venison trimmings
• onions x 1 ½
• carrot x 2
• juniper x 1 clove
• celery x 1
• thyme
• red wine 1 litre
• chicken stock – 2 litre

Method
Trimmings from venison – roast them in pan, until a nice colour – add the onion, carrot, juniper, celery and thyme.

Cover the meat with red wine and reduce the red wine completely, then de-glaze with chicken stock. Repeat the process with the chicken stock five times.
Pass the jus through muslin; this should leave with a thick jus.

Tartlet
• 1 butternut Squash
• olive oil x table spoon
• thyme x 1 sprig
• garlic x 1
• shallots – 30grammes
• 250g dried mushrooms
• 1 tbsp crème frâiche
• 2 x salsify root (cut to equal size)
• chicken stock – ½ litre
• garlic – 1 clove

Method
Peel and slice the butternut squash (using the top only due to the seeds) into rectangular pieces which should be about 3-4mm thick.
Confit this in olive oil, thyme and garlic.
Add the shallots and mushrooms in a pan and deglaze.
Once cooked add one spoon of crème frâiche.
For the salsify add carrot, onion, thyme and garlic from the jus. Then add the peeled salsify, de-glaze with white wine and cook in chicken stock.
To construct the tartlet take the butternut squash rectangular pieces then place the mushroom on top of the butternut and then add the white salsify.
To dress – add spinach leaves.

Butternut Squash Puree
• butternut squash – use trimmings – about ½
• olive oil – table spoon
• garlic x 1 crushed clove
• butter x 100g
• whipped cream – 60 grams

Method
Using the remaining butternut squash, cut into the same size pieces/cubes, cover with oil and roast in the oven with olive oil and garlic at 140ºC for about 30-40 minutes.
Once cooked add butter and whipping cream to make a puree.

If you’re interested in working alongside top quality chefs such as Daniel Galmiche send your CV to andy.sinclair@p-r-c.co.uk or call 01202 203150.


Thursday, 1 September 2011

Platinum Recruitment – Feature of the Month

Each month the team at Platinum Elite Chefs bring you an industry specific feature from one of the UK’s finest establishments.

This Month’s feature:

Chris Lee – Head Chef - The Bildeston Crown – Suffolk
3 Red Star Three Stars - 3 AA Rosette Three Rosettes

The Bildeston Crown has also achieved numerous prestigious awards including;

Taste of England Award - 2009
“Best Small Suffolk Hotel” in the Tourism in Suffolk Awards - 2008
“Best Restaurant” at Suffolk Food & Drink Awards - 2010
The 20 Best Restaurants with Rooms
The Sunday Times top 20 Restaurant with rooms

Find out more about Chris in our 60 seconds on the clock feature.........

Chris, where in the world are you from?
I am from Kent.

Where have you previously worked?
Prior to The Bildeston Crown I spent some time at country hotels & at Fawsley Hall, Northamptonshire & Windows Park Lane, London.

Which chef influenced you the most?
Phillip Howard & David Everitt Matthias.

What/where was your best ever meal?
A 22 course tasting at L’enclume.

What’s your favourite cookbook?
Le Crillon.

What is the next restaurant you want to visit?
Pic Valence Restaurant, France.

What’s your favourite produce to cook with?
I am fortunate enough to have a gun license, which enables me to go out on regular shoots so I enjoy cooking with local produce that I have shot myself.

Who would be in your fantasy brigade?
I spend too much time in a kitchen; there are far better fantasies that I can think of rather than a brigade.

Where would you go on a stage?
While eating at Pic Restaurant I would love to do a stage at the same time.

What would be your advice to anyone looking to get into the industry?
Say goodbye to friends and family unless they are in the same industry, and as this industry takes up a lot of your personal life. Be 100% that it’s what you would like to do because if you knuckle down and work hard in can be very rewarding.
For more information on Chris Lee and Restaurant The Bildeston Crown check out the restaurants website www.thebildestoncrown.com

Chris it’s a real pleasure to have you feature with Platinum Elite Chefs, a huge thank you for taking time away from your busy day!

If you haven’t had the opportunity to try Chris’ stunning food yet why don’t you try and recreate his Smoked Collar of Nedging pork dish.

Enjoy!!

See you next month

Andy

Smoked Collar of Nedging Pork, Roast Loin, Braised Lettuce and Artichoke

Ingredients - Smoked Collar
• 1 smoked collar
• 2 carrots
• 4 sticks of celery
• 1 Spanish onion
• 1 bulb of garlic
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 sprigs of rosemary
• 4 sprigs of thyme
• 2 litres of apple juice
• 2 litres of demi glace

Method
Soak the collar in water for 24 hours before cooking.
Peel and roughly chop the vegetables into a miripiox. In a large sauce pan sweat the vegetables until they are soft but haven’t coloured. Add the herbs, the apple juice and the demi glace. Now add the collar. If the liquid isn’t completely covering the collar top up with a little water. Cover with a cartouche and place the pan in an oven at 130cc for about 3 hours.

When the meat is extremely tender and falls apart easily it is ready. Remove the meat from the pan and set to one side to cool. Strain the liquid into a fresh pan and place on a stove to reduce. It should reduce by about half but check it regularly to make sure it doesn’t go too salty. Strain it into a tub and chill overnight, when cold remove any fat that has set on top.

When the collar has cooled a little but is still warm remove the black layer of meat from around the outside and then cut into quarter’s length ways. Roll each quarter tightly in cling film so they are round. Set these in the fridge overnight. When they are set cut into portions. Place each portion in a vac pac bag with a spoonful of the cooking liquor and seal. These can now just be dropped into hot water to heat for serving.

Ingredients - Baby artichoke Barigole
• 8 turned baby artichokes soaked in water and ascorbic acid for 24 hours
• 50g brunoise of carrot
• 50g brunoise celeriac
• 2 clove garlic finely sliced
• Thyme 1 sprig and 3g fennel seeds in a muslin ball
• 200ml olive oil
• 150ml white wine
• 300ml chicken stock (hot)
• 10g caster sugar
• Splash sherry vinegar

Method
Get the olive oil hot in a pan and add the artichokes, fry for a moment to steam any water off, pour in the wine and reduce to nothing.
Now add the brunoise and the muslin ball, then the garlic, the sugar and the chicken stock, cover with a cartouche and cook quickly until the artichokes are tender. Finish with a splash of sherry vinegar and a squeeze of lemon juice.

Ingredients – Braised Pigs Head
• 1 pigs head split in half
• 1 bottle red wine
• 4 carrots
• 1 head of celery
• 2 Spanish onions
• Thyme
• Rosemary
• 1 bulb garlic
• 4 bay leaves
• Demi glace
• 1 chicken breast
• 1 egg white
• 200ml double cream

Method
Peel and chop the vegetables into a miripiox, in a large pan melt a block of butter and add the miripiox to this. Sweat the vegetables with no colour until soft, add the wine and reduce by half, add the head and enough demi to cover finally add the herbs and the garlic, cover with a cartouche and simmer for 3-4 hours or until the meat falls off the bone.

Remove the meat from the liquor. Pick through this removing all the fat and bone, also any brain and the eyeballs.
You will need to peel the tongue and then this can be picked and added to the rest of the meat. The meat then needs to be chilled.

While it is chilling blitz the chicken breast in a food processor with a pinch of salt. When it comes together in a smooth paste add the egg white. Pass this mix through a drum sieve into a bowl. Now fold in the cream. Add the cold head meat to this. Now shape this mixture into balls about the size of golf balls. Allow to set in the fridge for an hour or so, they then just need to be paned, these can then just be deep fried to serve.

Ingredients – Confit potato and Waldorf salad

• 4 large new potatoes
• Duck fat
• 1 clove garlic
• 2 sprigs thyme
• 100g butter
• 2 Braeburn apples

Method
Cut the top and the bottom off of the potato and then using a parisienne scoop remove the middle of the potato. Place these in a pan and cover with duck fat, add the thyme and garlic and confit for about an hour until the potato is tender.
Peel the apples, remove the core and finely slice, work quickly so the apples don’t discolour, sweat the apple off in the butter quickly at first but making sure it doesn’t catch. Turn the heat down and cover with a cartouche, allow to cook until the apples are extremely tender and then put into a liquidiser are blitz to a puree.
Put some of the puree into the bottom of the potato and then top with apple batons, walnut halves (peeled) and celery leaf cress. This should all be dressed in walnut oil and lemon juice.

Ingredients –Lettuce puree and Minted Lettuce
• 1 Cos lettuce shredded heart removed
• 1 mint leaf
• 100g unsalted butter
• Chicken stock

Method
In a wide based pan get the butter foaming but not browned. Add the lettuce and cook quickly for a minute or two stirring continuously, do not allow to colour, then add the mint leaf, add a small splash of chicken stock to steam it. It should however evaporate immediately. Put everything in a liquidiser and blend to a smooth puree. Pass and chill quickly to make sure it stays green.

Ingredients –Braised Lettuce
• 1 English round lettuce picked like spinach, hearts removed.
• 6 mint leaves shiffonaded

Method
Sweat the lettuce leaves in butter to wilt, add the mint last minute and then push in to a cutter to serve

Ingredients –Crackling
• 1 belly skin

Method
Trim all of the fat off the skin so it is very very thin. Cut long thin strips of the skin and lay out on a flat metal tray. Season with fine salt and then place another flat tray on top. Put a couple of heavy pans on top of this and put it in the oven. Cook at 190?c for 26 minutes.

Pork Loin

Method
Cut a piece of the loin about an inch thick. Season and then pan fry. Starting in clarified butter and then adding a knob of butter to this and basting to finish.

To serve

Swipe some of the lettuce puree on the plate and use a little to hold the head ball. Place collar on the wilted lettuce, cut the artichoke in half and lean a piece of loin on each, place the potato with the Waldorf salad on the side of the plate and lean a piece of the crackling up against the collar, drizzle a little of the collar liquor on the plate and serve.

If you’re interested in working alongside top quality chefs such as Chris Lee send your CV to andy.sinclair@p-r-c.co.uk or call 01202 203150

Friday, 1 July 2011

Platinum Recruitment – Feature of the Month

Each month the team at Platinum Elite Chefs bring you an industry specific feature from one of the UK’s finest establishments.

This Month’s feature:

Mark Poynton – Chef Patron – Restaurant Alimentum – Cambridge
Good Food Guide ‘Top Restaurants’
3 AA Rosette Three Rosettes

It’s an honour to announce that Mark Poynton, Chef Patron of Restaurant Alimentum in Cambridge has provided Platinum Recruitments Elite Chef Division with the recipe, methodology and pictures for one of his signature dishes.

Find out more about Mark in our 60 seconds on the clock feature.........

Mark Where in the world are you from?

I am from the best part of England Chester (the North West.)

Where have you previously worked?

Prior to Alimentum I spent 7 ½ years at Midsummer House, and before that 1 ½ years at what was Juniper in Altrincham with Paul Kitching, and before that a few country house hotels in the north west area.

Which chef influenced you the most?

There have been 2 big influences in my career Daniel Clifford being the main and my very 1st head chef Ian Mcdowall.

What/where was your best ever meal?

I have been lucky enough to eat in some of the best Restaurants in the world so this is a difficult one with different answers, Most amazing experience was the kitchen table at El Bulli in 2005, and best food experience was Pierre Gagnaire in 2003.

What’s your favourite cookbook?

Modernist Cuisine Vol 4 at the moment.

Who would be in your fantasy brigade?

Daniel Clifford (Midsummer House) on meat, Russell Bateman (Colette's at the Grove) on fish, Matt Gillan (The Pass at South Lodge) on starters, Andy Sinclair (Platinum Recruitment) on garnish, Michelle Gillott (Sosa) on Pastry, Martyn Compton (Tanners) on the pass and me sitting in the restaurant eating what they cook.

What’s your favourite produce to cook with?

Always fish because 2 pieces are never the same.

If you could go anywhere on a stage, where would you go?

Alinea in Chicago.

If you weren’t a chef what would you be?

A really bad football player who dreams of playing for Celtic.

What would be your advice to anyone looking to get into the industry?

Knuckle Down and don’t be scared to ask questions, the day you stop questioning is they day you stop learning and improving.

Mark it’s a real pleasure to have you feature for us so a massive thank you!

For more information on Mark Poynton and Restaurant Alimentum check out the restaurants website www.restaurantalimentum.co.uk

Mark is also cooking at The Loft Project in October 2011, for reservations take a look www.theloftproject.co.uk

Why not recreate Marks Sirloin of beef & braised oxtail dish

Enjoy!!

See you next month

Andy

Sirloin of beef & braised oxtail, with mushroom puree and wilted spinach

This recipe revives a traditional and much underappreciated ingredient – oxtail, utilising its fulsome flavours whilst transforming its texture & appearance to nicely compliment the juicy succulence of the sirloin.

Serves 4

Ingredients
• 1 x 480g piece of sirloin of beef (trimmed of all fat and sinew)
• 750g x raw oxtail cut in to pieces
• 2 litres x brown chicken or beef stock
• 4 x eggs
• 100g x plain flour
• 100g x dried bread crumbs
• 1 x carrot (roughly chopped)
• 1 x stick of celery (roughly chopped)
• ½ x onion (roughly chopped)
• 2 x cloves garlic (peeled and sliced)
• 500g x baby spinach (washed and drained)
• 500g x button mushrooms
• 200g x double cream

Method

Braised oxtail (Can be prepared the day before)

Fry the oxtail in a little vegetable oil until golden then add the chopped vegetables & fry till golden.
Place these ingredients in a roasting tray and cook in a preheated oven at 120C for 4 – 5 hours.
When cooked (the meat should fall away from the bone when a little pressure is applied) remove the oxtails from the cooking juices and pick the meat from the bone while still warm.
Pass the cooking juices through a strainer and add a little back to the cooked meat to maintain moisture. Season the meat & juices with a little salt to taste, then roll the meat, using cling- film, into sausage shapes and place in the fridge for 2 hours (or overnight if preferred).
Reserve the cooking juice to serve as sauce.
When the oxtail has set in the sausage shape cut into serving size pieces then roll through the seasoned flour, dip into beaten eggs and coat with breadcrumbs, ready for finishing.

Mushroom Puree

Wash the mushrooms in cold water and drain. Quickly break the mushrooms into small pieces using the pulse function on a blender.
Place the mushroom pieces into a deep, heavy bottomed pan and dry fry for about 20 minutes until all the liquid disappears, then add the double cream and blend until smooth. Season with salt and lemon juice to taste.

Sirloin

Cut the beef into 4 x 120g pieces and season with salt and freshly ground pepper.
Heat a heavy based oven proof frying pan. Add a little vegetable oil and seal the outside of the steaks until golden all over, then put into a preheated oven (180C) for about 6-8 minutes for medium rare, (medium 8 – 12). Remove from the heat and leave to rest for about 5 minutes.

To serve

Colour the coated oxtail in a little hot oil until golden, then place with the beef in the oven at 160C for 3 minutes.
Meanwhile heat the mushroom puree and wilt the spinach in a little butter. Season both to taste and arrange on warmed plates to serve, alongside the oxtail and sliced beef, which is drizzled with the oxtail cooking juices to finish. Creamed potato & roasted shallot makes the perfect accompaniment.

If you’re interested in working alongside top quality chefs such as Mark Poynton send your CV to andy.sinclair@p-r-c.co.uk

Platinum Recruitment – Feature of the Month

Each month the team at Platinum Elite Chefs bring you an industry specific feature from one of the UK’s finest establishments.

This Month’s feature:

Mark Jordan – Executive Chef – The Atlantic Hotel - Jersey
3 AA Rosette
Three Rosettes 1 Michelin Star Michelin Star

I’m proud to announce that Mark Jordan, Executive Chef at The Atlantic Hotel in Jersey has kindly provided Platinum Recruitments Elite Chef Division with the recipe, methodology and pictures for one of his signature dishes.

Find out more about Mark in our 60 seconds on the clock feature.........

Mark Where in the world are you from?
I was born in a small town called Morfa Nefyn in North Wales but was brought up in the Midlands.

Where have you previously worked?
I started my career with the great Keith Floyd at the Maltsters Arms in Devon. I then left to become Sous Chef for Jean-Christophe Novelli at The Mill at Gordleton Hotel and Restaurant in Hampshire. I then moved to become Head Pastry Chef at Llangoed Hall, Sir Bernard Ashley’s hotel in mid Wales. Following that I was employed as Sous Chef at Congham Hall Hotel in Norfolk, after which I spent a short spell working at Rascasse, Simon Gueller’s restaurant in Leeds before I went to work with the Roux brothers in Amsterdam as Head Pastry Chef. I then returned to England and took up my first Head Chef position with the celebrity chef Steven Saunders at the Pink Geranium restaurant in Cambridgeshire. I was there for eight years. I then moved up north to become Head Chef at Gilpin Lodge Hotel near Windermere for a couple of years before jetting off to become Head Chef at The Atlantic Hotel in Jersey.

Which chef influenced you the most?
It would have to be Keith Floyd; no fashions, no gimmicks - just good well cooked food.

What/where was your best ever meal?

My best meal ever I would have to say was at the Ledbury last year. Brett Graham’s style and the thought he puts into his dishes is amazing so he quite rightly deserves his two star status.

What’s your favourite cookbook?
My favourite cookbook still has to be White Heat. It’s a great book that will always have a place on my book shelf.

What would be your fantasy brigade?
My fantasy brigade, well, that’s a question! It would have to be Michael Wignall, a great pastry chef; Eric Chavot, an all round great chef; Tony Pierce, my good friend from Knockinaam Lodge probably on fish; Rene Redzepi in the development kitchen and I would love to go back in time and have Keith Floyd back on the pass with me.

What’s your favourite produce to cook with?
My favourite produce to work with is pork belly - a really fantastic ingredient that is very versatile.

If you could go anywhere where would you go on a stage?
Peter Gilmore at Quay in Sydney. I love his style and ethos.

If you weren’t a chef what would you be?
Well, I became a chef by default as I originally wanted to study animation but because of certain situations at school I was unable to gain the qualifications to get on to an animation course.

What would be your advice to anyone looking to get into the industry?
My advice to any young person coming into catering is to make sure that it really is what you want to do as it takes up all of your personal life, family times and celebration times such as Christmas, Bank Holidays etc. However, when you do work hard and become successful in the catering industry it can become very rewarding and interesting.

Mark is extremely busy at the moment with the opening of his new restaurant ‘Mark Jordan at the Beach’, the launch of his first book ‘Mark Jordan's Ocean Voyage’ and not to mention running his renowned Michelin Star restaurant, with so much on I’d like to say a big thank you for taking the time to talk to us.

For more information on Mark Jordan and The Atlantic Hotel check out the Hotels website:- www.theatlantichotel.com

If you would like to order Mark’s book visit www.chefmagazine.co.uk/Products/27/57/Ocean-Voyage.html

Why not recreate Marks Pan-roast fillets of sole dish

Enjoy!!
See you next month
Andy

Pan-roast Fillets of Sole with Crab-crushed Jersey Royals and Sauce Grenoble

Ingredients

Dover sole

3 x 450g Dover soles, skinned

Sauce Grenoble
100g gherkins
100g baby capers
1 squeeze lemon juice
1 handful parsley, chopped

Crab-crushed Jersey Royals
450g Jersey Royals
Vegetable oil
50g butter
Juice of 1 lemon
100g fresh white crab meat
Salt and pepper
1 handful chives, chopped

Fish Velouté/foam
1 shallot
1/2 bulb garlic
Vegetable oil
1 sprig thyme
4-5 button mushrooms. sliced
1 vanilla pod
125ml medium white wine
125ml dry vermouth
950ml fish stock
300ml double cream
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Salt, to taste

Bread croutons
Ingredients
1/2 fresh white loaf
475ml vegetable oil
100g butter
Salt
Parmesan cheese

To serve

10-12 caper berries
Basil cress

Method

Dover sole

Fillet the sole by running a sharp flexible knife down each side of the sole’s backbone and slowly removing the flesh from the bone using delicate strokes of the knife. Flip over the sole and do the same again for the underside. Trim the sole, removing any straggly bits. Lay one fillet of sole in front of you on a chopping board – you will notice there is a thick end and a thin end. Lay another fillet on top of the first fillet the opposite way thick end to thin and repeat this three times – there should be in total six pieces of fillet stacked on top of each other.

While the sole is stacked skewer two fillets together with cocktail sticks, using six in total. Roll each pair over and trim the ends square and then cut in half – that will be your first two portions, now the same with the remaining fillets. Place in the fridge to chill.

Sauce Grenoble

Chop the gherkins into small dice and mix with the capers. Add the lemon juice and parsley and reserve.

Crab-crushed Jersey Royals

Preheat the oven to 170°C.
Wash and place the potatoes into a pan of salted water and slowly bring them up to the boil. Once the potatoes are cooked remove them from the water and store in the saucepan. In a large sauté pan heat up a little oil, to this add the Dover sole stacks and gently colour until golden brown on one side. Remove from the pan and place into the oven for 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and place back in to the pan with the
oil. Add a good knob of butter and squeeze of the lemon juice, baste the butter over the sole and leave for a minute. Using a fork crush the potatoes and add the remaining butter, remaining lemon juice, crab meat, salt and pepper, and chives.

Fish Velouté/foam
Peel and slice the shallot and garlic and add to a saucepan with a few drops of vegetable oil and gently fry without colouring. Add the thyme and the mushrooms. Slice the vanilla pod in half lengthways and add the pan. Pour in the wine and the vermouth and reduce until the liquid is syrupy. Pour the fish stock into the pan and bring to the boil then reduce by two-thirds. Add the cream and the lemon juice and again bring the sauce up to the boil. Adjust the seasoning with the salt and pour through a fine sieve.

Bread croutons
Slice the bread into 0.5cm thick slices and remove the crust with a sharp knife. Cut the bread into 0.5cm long strips and then cut the strips into 0.5cm dice. Place the oil into a thick-bottomed pan and heat it up, place one dice of the bread into the oil to see if the oil is hot enough – the crouton should fry quickly and turn brown. Remove this crouton from the oil and then add the others and keep stirring them around while they fry. Once the croutons turn brown, turn off the heat, add the butter and stir again. Pour the oil and the croutons into a fine sieve and drain well. While the croutons are hot season with a little salt and grate over the cheese. Set aside until required.

To serve
Place a metal ring in the centre of each serving dish and half fill with the hot potatoes, pressing them down thoroughly. Remove the metal ring and gently place a portion of sole on top of the potato. At this point gently twist and pull out the cocktail sticks.

Heat up the sauce and spoon some over the sole. Using a hand blender foam the fish veloute and also spoon some over the dish. Garnish with a few caper berries, the croutons and cress, and serve.

If you’re interested in working alongside top quality chefs such as Mark Jordan send your CV to andy.sinclair@p-r-c.co.uk

Friday, 1 April 2011

Platinum Recruitment – Feature of the Month

Each month the team at Platinum Elite Chefs bring you an industry specific feature from one of the UK’s finest establishments.

This Month’s feature:

Antonin Bonnet – Head Chef – The Greenhouse - London
4 AA Rosette
Four Rosettes 1 Michelin Star Michelin Star

I’m proud to announce that Antonin Bonnet, Executive Chef at The Greenhouse restaurant has kindly provided Platinum Recruitments Elite Chef Division with the recipe, methodology and pictures for one of his signature dishes.

Find out more about Antonin in our 60 seconds on the clock feature.........

Antonin where in the world are you from?

Lyon, France

Where have you previously worked?
Michel Bras, L’Oustau de Baumaniere.

Which chef influenced you the most?
Michel Bras.

What was your best ever meal?
At Le Pre Catelan, Frederic Anton.

What’s your favourite cookbook?
Kaiseki from Murata.

What is the next restaurant you want to visit?
Oaxen Krog in Sweden.

What’s your favourite produce to cook with?
Small game, grouse, partridge and woodcock.

Where would you go on a stage?
Kikunoi Honten, Japan.

If you weren’t a chef what would you be?
An architect.

What would be your advice to anyone looking to get into the industry?
Be passionate

For more information on Antonin Bonnet and The Greenhouse check out the Restaurants website: - www.greenhouserestaurant.co.uk

Why not try Antonin’s Pigeon dish

Enjoy!!

See you next month

Andy

Pigeon pomegranate, liquorice powder, turnips puree and salted almonds

Pigeons and jus
10 Anjou Pigeons
500g Trimming
150g Onions
50g Garlic
150g Butter

Clean and flamber the pigeon. String them. And keep them in the fridge. Use the trimming to make the jus into a cooper pan

Pomegranate reduction
250g Pomegranate jus
2 Pomegranate

Reduce the pomegranate jus to the desired consistency. Break the pomegranate in halves and pick them. Keep in a cool place.

Liquorice seasoning
100g Muscovado sugar
15g Almond powder
100g Dry olives

Mix both ingredients and chop them together until you get an even texture.

Jus d’abat
200g Giblets
50g Raw pancetta
50g Raw lard
5g Grilled lard
Black pepper

Pass everything through the fine griddle of the grinder, cook with a part of the pigeon jus and pass through a fine tamis. Check the consistency and season with some black pepper.

Turnips
20 baby turnips
Olive oil
Salt

Peel turnips. Cook sous vide at 80°c for 20 minutes. A la minute, cut one turnip into quarters and glaze with honey.

Honey Glaze
100g rice vinegar
20g Honey
1g White pepper
Paprika smoked

Put all the ingredients together and reduce to the proper consistency.

Turnip purée
200g Cooked turnips
40g olive oil emulsion
40g almond powder
Salt

Cook the turnip sous vide until tender and emulsify with the olive oil emulsion and the almond powder until completely smooth..

Salted almonds
10g Malto
5g Almond oil
15g Praline a l’ancienne
5g Toasted chopped almond

Mix all the ingredients together making sure the bowl is clear of all humidity. Keep in an air tight container away from humidity.

Garnishes
Sorrel leaf
Wild sorrel leaf
Cleaver sorrel

If you’re interested in working alongside top quality chefs such as Antonin Bonnet send your CV to andy.sinclair@p-r-c.co.uk

Thursday, 3 March 2011

Platinum Recruitment – Feature of the Month

Each month the team at Platinum Elite Chefs bring you an industry specific feature from one of the UK’s finest establishments.

This Month’s feature:

Phil Thompson – Executive Chef – Auberge du Lac - Hertfordshire
3 AA Rosette Three Rosettes - 1 Michelin Star
Michelin Star

I am very proud to announce that Phil Thompson, Executive Chef Chef at Auberge du Lac has kindly provided Platinum Recruitments Elite Chef Division with the recipe, methodology and pictures for one of his signature dishes.

Find out more about Phil in our 60 seconds on the clock feature.........

Phil, where in the world are you from?
Dagenham, Essex

Where have you previously worked?
The Lanesborough, St. Martins Hotel/ Orrery/ L'Escargot

Which chef influenced you the most?
The Galvin Brothers

What/where was your best ever meal?
I’ve had so many and been lucky enough to eat in a lot of restaurants like Per se, Le Manoir and even the local pub does a nice steak!

What’s your favourite cookbook?
Don’t have a favourite; I think all cook books bring something different

What would be your fantasy brigade?
Angelina Jolie – Sauce
Megan Fox – Fish
Eva Longoria – Larder Don’t think I’d get much work done!
Charlize Theron – Veg
Peter 23 from Essex – Hot Starters
Stacey Soloman – (X Factor from Dagenham)

What’s your favourite produce to cook with?
I love all the different types of mushrooms that are available during the different seasons

If you could go anywhere, where would you go on a stage?
Alinia - Chicago

If you weren’t a chef, what would you be?
I’d love to play professional rugby

What would be your advice to anyone looking to get into the industry?
Be prepared to sacrifice everything for the next 10 years, if not don’t do it!

For more information on Phil Thompson and Auberge du Lac check out the Restaurants website: - www.aubergedulac.co.uk

Why not try Phil’s Pear and Roquefort Mousse dish.

Enjoy!!

See you next month

Andy

Pear and Roquefort Mousse

Poached Pear
2 Pears
250g White Wine
1 Lemon Zest
1 Vanilla
50g Sugar
½ Cinnamon Stick
10g Vege Gel

Method
Bring the ingredients to the boil and burn off the alcohol; simmer for 10- 15 minutes until pear softens Allow to cool off the heat. Strain off Liquor and boil with vege Gel, Set on a plate and cut to dice same size as the pear.

Roquefort Mousse
75g White Chocolate
200g Double Cream
50g Roquefort

Method
Melt the White Chocolate and semi whip the cream.
Whisk half of the cream into the chocolate and melt in the Roquefort.
Fold in the rest of the cream and allow to set in the fridge.

To serve
• On the plate split some olive oil and melted chocolate.
• Using some tempered white chocolate squares place 4 jellies on the plate and the chocolate on top and build the layers up using the diced pear.
• Quenelle the mousse on top and place a curved square of chocolate.
• Finish with a grating of dark chocolate and chocolate cigarette.

If you’re interested in working alongside top quality chefs such as Phil Thompson send your CV to andy.sinclair@p-r-c.co.uk

Friday, 4 February 2011

Stage – Paris House in Woburn

Head Chef – Phil Fanning

1 Michelin Star

3 AA Rosette

www.parishouse.co.uk


My latest Stage took me to the stunning Paris House in Woburn. Not only is the food remarkable but so is the story of the building. Originally built in 1878 in Paris, the timber framed building was dismantled and shipped to the stunning grounds of Woburn Park at the end of the 19th Century.

Alan Murchison purchased Paris House at the end of 2009. Coupled with a year’s hard work and a great local reputation Alan, Phil and the team not only achieved 3 AA Rosette’s but were recently awarded a prestigious Michelin Star in the 100th year of the Great Britain and & Ireland Michelin Guide

When I arrived at Paris House Phil introduced me to the team who were all extremely welcoming, I could tell straight away he had a solid team of chefs, all of whom were busy getting on with the mornings mise en place.

Throughout the day I saw many dishes being prepared and leave the pass in immaculate fashion, described as ‘retro, classic’ using locally sourced organic produce, every dish is well deserving of its newly acquired Michelin Star.

My favourite had to be Phil’s take on ham egg and chips; the dish consists of Parma and smoked ham terrine with Thai spiced pineapple Carpaccio, purple potato chips, quail egg and bacon powder.

Paris House
Paris House Chefs
Paris House Dish
Paris House DishParis House DishParis House DishParis House DishParis House Dish

After a busy day in the kitchen I managed to prise Phil away from the stove for quick 60 seconds on the clock.....

Phil, where in the world are you from?
High Wickham

Where have you previously worked?
Vanilla Pod in Marlow, as well as doing stints at Dainsfield House and The Complete Angler and obviously L’Ortolan with Alan.

Which chef influenced you the most?

Tomas Keller

What was your best ever meal?
Easy, The fat Duck

What’s your favourite cookbook?
Dessert Cuisine of Oriol Balaguer

What is the next restaurant you want to visit?
Either Pied a Terre, The Ledbury or Hibiscus, if I had to choose one it would be Pied a Terre

Who would be in your fantasy brigade?
Larder – Heston Blumenthal (The Fat Duck)
Garnish – Gordon Ramsay (Royal Hospital Road)
Fish – Alan Murchison (10 in 8)
Meat – Daniel Clifford (Midsummer House)
Pastry – Simon Jenkins (Coworth Park)

Where would you go on a stage?
The French Laundry

If you weren’t a chef what would you be?
I would love to have been an engineer but I’m not great at Maths so maybe an inventor

What would be your advice to anyone looking to get into the industry?
Make sure you’re doing it for the love!

I would like to say a massive thank you to Phil, Alan and the team for allowing me into their kitchen for the day, it was a great experience and I look forward to visiting again soon

Paris House is open from Tuesday dinner through to Sunday lunch, serving Menu Du Jour, a Midweek Dinner Menu, A la Carte, Gourmand Tasting, Vegetarian Gourmand and Prestige Tasting menu’s.

Please visit www.parishouse.co.uk for more information.

If you’re interested in working alongside top quality chefs such as Phil Fanning and Alan Murchison send your CV to andy.sinclair@p-r-c.co.uk or call Andy Sinclair on 01202 203150

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