Young Chester Chef makes his mark with Talented Chef evening

Young chef Stuart Fenney of Vicars Cross recently enjoyed a taste of success when he found himself taking charge of the kitchens at Christleton gastro pub Ring O Bells as Head Chef cooking a menu of his own design for a roomful of diners.

This was the latest in the current series of Talented Chef Evenings that have been organised by local tourism board Visit Chester & Cheshire in collaboration with leading restaurants throughout Cheshire to raise the profile of talented young chefs across the region.

The evenings are a perfect opportunity for Cheshire’s dynamic and gifted young chefs to showcase their creative specialities, and give diners the chance to eat out in style at a relatively low cost.

Stuart, aged 23, created a delicious four course menu focussing on mouth-watering seasonal produce including a starter of stilton & cranberry tart followed by twice-cooked belly pork served with gratin dauphinoise or a vegetarian option of wild mushroom, chestnut & cream cheese strudel. A warming Chocolate and Orange fondant came next and this perfect Winter meal ended with a range of Joseph Heler’s award-winning cheeses accompanied with water biscuits, bread rolls and homemade chutney.

Guests were well looked after by young host Sam Mallows who welcomed guests to a complimentary glass of Prosecco and attended to them throughout the evening. Diners also enjoyed a beer tasting which included an unusual chocolate beer to accompany the dessert.

To mark the occasion Stuart Fenney was presented with a commemorative plate along with a chef’s jacket. Sam Mallows was presented with a Magnum of Prosecco.

“I’ve been a professional chef for just nine months so to experience this and have a roomful of people enjoy my food really has been mind blowing.” Stuart commented,

“The owner Ian Wade has really put his belief in me which is amazing, especially as I didn’t really feel I had a calling after I left school, but now being a chef has really given me a focus for my life.”

He adds: “I had all my family here tonight including my girlfriend so really wanted to do well and I’ve loved everyone’s reaction to my choice of food. As this evening went so well I’m now more determined than ever before to become a Head Chef of a successful restaurant.”

Visit Chester & Cheshire’s Pam Billington comments: “This was a fantastic event enjoyed by all and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the owners of the Ring O Bells Ian Wade and Adam Johnson for their support for the Talented Chef evenings which helps the promotion and investment of our future talent like Stuart and Sam.”