MANCHESTER CHEFS TAKE GOLD IN - MAY 08
Temperatures reached boiling point yesterday, Tuesday 20th May, as sixteen chefs from Charlton House staff restaurants throughout the Midlands, the North and Scotland gathered at Manchester Metropolitan University, Hollings Campus for the Charlton House Ready, Steady, Cook Challenge.
The chefs were given a box of mystery ingredients and had to cook a three-course meal in just 30 minutes in front of a live audience. Four teams of finalists then had 45 minutes to cook another three-course meal.
The overall winners were Jon Scoltock, a 37-year head chef from Northwich and Terry Walker, a 35-year-old sous chef from Bolton, who both work for Charlton House at BUPA in Salford Quays, Manchester.
The talented pair made venison with a pomegranate dressing for starters, followed by steamed bream with tiger prawns, artichoke mash and a lemon& herb dressing. For dessert, they made a duo of puddings comprising a chocolate and raspberry mousse and rhubarb and custard.
Commenting on the event, Jon Scoltock said: “It was a highly enjoyable experience and a great showcase for Charlton House skills. The competition was tough and we were tight for time but we made it!”
David Bridge, Charlton House’s executive chef in the north said: “Our director of food is the Michelin-starred chef, David Cavalier, so the standards were very high yesterday. At Charlton House we like to challenge and push our chef brigades and let them use their creative skills. It is well known that the hospitality industry is dogged by a shortage of skilled chefs and we are constantly on the lookout for good people to join our brigades. We mentor, promote and develop our chefs and the result is a team of really passionate people who love what they do.”
The silver winners were Andrea Downie from Laing O’ Rourke in Glasgow and Anthony Coltman from Hammonds law firm in Leeds. Bronze went to Darren Nixon from Land Registry in Durham, Phillip Griffiths from T-Mobile in Sunderland,
Simon Mason from Steria in Birmingham and Darren Swadling from Network Rail in Birmingham.
"It was a highly enjoyable experience and a great showcase for Charlton House skills. The competition was tough and we were tight for time but we made it" |
 Terry Walker (left) and Jon Scoltock (right  |