Students Take County Flavours to Centre Stage

HCT Students Take County Flavours to Centre Stage in London Finals

 

Herefordshire College of Technology, Level 2 Hospitality and Catering students Dale Williams, Josie Davies and Chloe Dicken have won the regional finals of the nationwide competition ‘Brake’s Student Chef Team Challenge’ with this year’s theme ‘Best of British’.

The team created a three course-menu, which included a variety of local produce such as Wye Valley Trout, Dorothy Goodbody’s Ale, Herefordshire Beef and Chase Vodka. The team had 1hr 45minutes to execute 4 dishes of each course and were being judged not only on the end product but also on their communication, preparation and hygiene. The competition was tough with all of the other 5 colleges submitting teams from their Level 3 programmes.

The winning trio commented, “Practice definitely makes perfect. Our tutors have really been amazing; Les Brown and Stuart Leggett (from the Stewing Pot restaurant in Hereford) have helped our confidence a lot. We set up restricted space and time conditions with them as the judges and this prepared us well for the real event. Once we were there, we just went for it! We’re really excited about the finals though of course a little nervous too. We have a week off and then we’re back in to training again. We’re taking on board what the judges told us and then hopefully each dish will be absolutely spot on.”

As one of the six winning teams from regional heats across the UK they have been invited to take part in the live final, which is being held at the Hotelympia Salon Culinaire International De Londres at the end of February. It’s a biannual event renowned throughout the industry and this time the team will be performing in front of a live audience.

This competition allows the winning team of the February finals an amazing opportunity to gain work experience at one of London’s leading hotels, which occupies the historic County Hall building. The winners will be under the tutelage of Christopher Basten, Executive Chef at the London Marriot Hotel, County Hall.

Team Leader, Sarra Leak is really proud of the staff and students, “They’ve all worked tremendously hard to get to this level and just getting to the final is outstanding. This is a real testament to how committed the tutors are and how inspired our students are by them. A great performance all round, fingers crossed for February!”

ENDS

Date: 17/01/12

Contact: Amy Howard

Tel: 01432 365499

Email: howarda@hct.ac.uk

 

Herefordshire College of Technology; Success for our Students…

Centre is Full of Christmas Cheer

Following the launch of the Herefordshire You Can branding campaign, one of the City’s newest retail outlets has become a destination for a large variety of the county’s home-grown beverages, saying Here you can get some Christmas cheer.

 

The Visit Herefordshire Centre in King Street, Hereford has obtained its long awaited licence and is now a specialist stockist of a large range of ciders, perries, beers, ales, fruit liqueurs, soft drinks and mixers.  Brands include renowned ciders from award winning suppliers such as Westons, Olivers, Dunkertons, Once Upon a Tree, The Orgasmic Cider Co. and Butfords, some of which also make excellent juices as well as specialist producer Jus.  Locally made beers and ales from Hereford Brewery and Mayfields, sit alongside delicious liqueurs and mixers from British Cassis.

Products can be bought individually or in attractive gift packs, ideal to solve that Christmas gift conundrum. 

The information and gift centre is the perfect window to showcase some of Herefordshire’s excellent produce and supports members of Visit Herefordshire with the opportunity to sell their products in this easily accessible outlet.  Currently the shop is packed full of gift items, art, crafts, cards and wonderful seasonal treats and ideas for presents from Herefordshire.

Anyone wishing to sell their products or become a member of Visit Herefordshire, should contact the Visit Herefordshire office on 01432 268430 or reception@visitherefordshire.co.uk

Phil Rickman City Centre Signing

PRESS RELEASE

PHIL RICKMAN CITY CENTRE SIGNING OF HEREFORD BASED NOVEL

Phil Rickman is the author of the internationally-acclaimed series of novels featuring Merrily Watkins, rural diocesan exorcist, and his inclusion of real locations around the country and Herefordshire have led many readers to visit the areas and bring the stories to greater life.

Now fans can meet the author and discover some of the Herefordshire places that create the settings for his latest book in the Merrily series, The Secrets of Pain.

His early horror novels were praised by Stephen King but determined to avoid any hint of fantasy, he now concentrates on realistic crime with a subtle element of the paranormal.

The Secrets of Pain was published in September 2011 and is set entirely in and around Hereford. The eleventh in the series, this novel involves the covert SAS organization with a key character, a pagan cult and a double murder in the city centre.

From 3.45pm 7 December Rickman will be signing copies of The Secrets of Pain at the Visit Herefordshire Centre, 1 King Street, Hereford. Signings, will be preceded at 2pm by a tour of Hereford City to some of the locations featured in this and other books in the series. This is an exciting chance for readers to meet the author and delve even further into what makes Rickman’s stories so realistic.

December also sees the paperback republication of the most controversial novel in the series, The Lamp of the Wicked.

For further details of the 7 December tour and signings, contact Visit Herefordshire 01432 268430.

A web trail of the locations featured in the novels can be found on www.ledwardine.co.uk

For further information of this event contact Liz Hill at Visit Herefordshire 01432 268430.

For more information on Phil Rickman www.philrickman.co.uk

Herefordshire Makes Its Marque

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HEREFORDSHIRE MAKES ITS MARQUE

The launch of a new Iconic Marque to identify the county of Herefordshire took place at Hampton Court Castle and Gardens in the north of the county on 6 October.

As part of Visit Herefordshire’s Autumn Forum, Sir Ben Gill, chairman, led the momentous event, which was attended by regional press and media and over 150 members of the Visit Herefordshire tourism organisation.

The key to the new logo is the usage of the first four letters of the word HEREfordshire, and then an adaptation of add-on scripts HEREfordshire YOU CAN, VISIT HEREfordshire, LIVE HEREfordshire and so on.

While the look of the marque can be adapted to traverse many trading sectors across industry and tourism, the generic stamp includes the silhouette of a Hereford Bull aligned with the specific font style of the words.

In partnership with Visit Herefordshire and The Herefordshire Business Board, the brand was created by Small Back Room and comprehensively presented by their representative Tim Lewis.

Sir Ben detailed how the innovative marque would be a symbol of individuality, credibility and belonging for all who see and utilise it. It was designed to reflect Herefordshire’s quirky, unique and welcoming nature, and thanked the Herefordshire companies that had stepped forward to be early adopters and carry the logo in their businesses.

Ambassadors of those companies also attended, with examples of how the branding could be used on their products, stationary, websites, packaging etc. They included beverages, bird seed, biscuits, produce and venues.

A visual highlight of the event was the magnificent live Hereford Bull, Albert, supplied by local Leominster farmers, Bowens at Ford Abbey Farm, which greeted all visitors at the front of the castle and sported a branded cover of the new marque.

The Autumn Forum also included presentation of the new Visit Herefordshire tourism website, www.visitherefordshire.co.uk, due to be launched in the coming months, which is not only an essential avenue for visitors to find out about the county, but also an integral vehicle of promotion for Visit Herefordshire members.

A brief overview of the all new 2012 Herefordshire Food Festival and its new location and aspirations was also introduced.

The Iconic Marque was very well received and embraced by all who attended. Anyone wishing to know more about it and how to adopt the logo in their own business should contact Rachel Jones on rejones@herefordshire.gov.uk

Details of the venue can be found at www.hamptoncourt.org.uk

Details of the companies that are early adopters of the marque can be found in the press pack.

Visit Herefordshire is a privately run not for profit organisation and is the official body to offer assistance and advice to tourism businesses in Herefordshire. It supports its members and Herefordshire businesses in generating and promoting events, tourism initiatives, business development and training and is dedicated to putting Herefordshire firmly on the tourism map.

Offices are at The Discover Herefordshire Centre, information centre and shop in King Street Hereford, which displays crafts and works from artisan makers from around Herefordshire. www.visitherefordshire.co.uk

 

Sir Ben Gill CBE MA (Cantab) lives in Herefordshire and is Chairman of Visit Herefordshire. He was National President of the NFU 1998-2004. Amongst other private business interests including his company Hawkshills Consultancy Ltd, he has been a non-executive director of Countrywide Farmers PLC for seven years, is Chairman of English Apples and Pears Ltd and Chairman of Cawood Scientific, the largest provider of scientific analysis to the agricultural sector. He is a Trustee of the John Innes Foundation, Governor of the John Innes Institute and Chairman of Harrogate International Business School and is a board member of the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership.

 

Source: MinxMedia Ltd  T: 07713 243869  heidi@mixmedia.co.uk

FRENCH CHEF MEETS HEREFORDSHIRE’S OWN FOOD & DRINK CELEBRITIES

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FRENCH CHEF MEETS HEREFORDSHIRE’S OWN FOOD & DRINK CELEBRITIES

Famous TV and Michelin Star chef, Jean Christophe Novelli was as keen to meet Herefordshire’s own award winners as they were to meet him over the food festival weekend.

Following the Flavours of Herefordshire Awards, Novelli recognised Tomas Cook, from A Cook’s Kitchen near Pembridge, Herefordshire, as one of the students that trained with him in years gone by. Winning Highly Commended in the Restaurant of the Year, and then Outstanding New Entrant at the Friday awards evening, it was no wonder JC wanted to pay Tomas a personal visit at his premises, which he did on the Saturday night.

While in the area, Novelli took the opportunity to call into British Cassis, also near Pembridge and Commended winners of the Drinks Producer of the Year award. Jo Hilditch was able to discuss in person the process by which the beverage, that had been enjoyed as a welcome drink on the awards night, was made with the curious French chef.

Novelli ended his whistle stop tour by dining at Castle House in Hereford City, where he and his assistant chef Felice were staying, and where he chatted with George Watkins, son of the hotel owner David Watkins, listening interestedly to how the family farm at Ballingham supplies much of the boutique residence’s provisions.

It seems that Herefordshire gave this inquisitive chef as much inspiration as he did his own audience during that exciting autumn weekend.

Businesses visited:

A Cook’s Kitchen www.acookskitchen.co.uk

British Cassis www.britishcassis.co.uk

Castle House www.castlehse.co.uk

 

The Flavours of Herefordshire Awards

The Flavours of Herefordshire award scheme recognises quality and excellence in the marketing and use of the local food and drink that

is served and produced here in the County, and how that distinctiveness is promoted to the wider public. From this starting point, the scheme aims

to promote the unique produce of Herefordshire through the development of local products, dishes and recipes, and raising awareness of these products through promotion via marketing literature, websites and the annual Flavours Food Festival. The scheme welcomes all business operators with a dedication to providing a quality eating experience for their customers, from the smallest B&B to the most innovative food producer. The profile of the scheme, now celebrating it’s twelfth year, continues to grow and the Awards themselves are more hotly contested than ever.

The Flavours of Herefordshire Food Awards

PRESS RELEASE

Over 140 people attended the annual Flavours of Herefordshire Food Awards, organised by Visit Herefordshire, with at a glittering gala dinner at Hereford Racecourse on 21 October.

The evening was compered by lively seasoned presenter and self-confessed foodie Katie Johnson, along with Sir Ben Gill, Chairman of Visit Herefordshire.

Presentations of personalised display plaques to the commended, highly commended and winners of each of the categories were made by celebrated French Chef Jean Christophe Novelli, himself in possession of 5 AA Rosettes and numerous Michelin Stars. Novelli was also the star attraction at the county’s Food Festival during that same weekend, where he entertained with three daily cookery demonstrations and the judging of several cook-off competitions.

The plaques are a symbol of achievement that the owners can display in their establishments and the awards can also be used for their own business promotion.

This year’s Young Chefs awards were kindly sponsored by Axon Enterprises in partnership with national appliance manufacturer Electrolux, who provided the additional prizes of a days mentoring with Michelin Star chef Glyn Purnell, to be taken at his restaurant Purnells in Birmingham, plus smart branded chefs jackets. Stuart Flint, Sales Director for Electrolux Professional, also judged the categories at Herefordshire College of Technology.

A special new award was given this year to celebrate Herefordshire’s Year in the Orchard project and the 200th anniversary of Herefordian Thomas Andrew Knight’s book on the culture of Herefordshire apples and pears, Pomona Herefordiensis. The RHS Pomona Award was presented by Lawrence Banks, Vice President of the RHS, who also manages the Hergest Estate and Hergest Croft Gardens in north Herefordshire with his wife, RHS President Elizabeth Banks, to Whitehorn Farm Carey Organic Orchard.

Three more new awards were also presented for Outstanding New Entrant, to A Cook’s Kitchen near Pembridge, an Outstanding Achievement Award went to Oliver’s Cider and Perry and White Haywood Farm received a Food Champion award.

Sir Ben Gill commented “This year’s thirteenth annual Flavours of Herefordshire Food Awards were widely acknowledged as being an exceptional evening from start to finish, with a high quality dinner based on excellent Herefordshire produce.

A significant number of first time entries with a great range of diversity made for a closely fought competition and this bodes well for the future of Herefordshire’s food and drink industry. We are looking to develop the awards scheme further and ideas as to how this can be achieved to the benefit of Herefordshire’s food and drink offer in the county will be welcomed at the Visit Herefordshire offices.”

A full listing of the winning businesses can be seen in a special supplement that is to be circulated within the second edition of the Essence of Herefordshire food magazine, available for free pick-up from foodie businesses around the county and from the Discover Herefordshire Centre in King Street Hereford.

The Flavours of Herefordshire Awards

The Flavours of Herefordshire award scheme recognises quality and excellence in the marketing and use of the local food and drink that

is served and produced here in the County, and how that distinctiveness is promoted to the wider public. From this starting point, the scheme aims

to promote the unique produce of Herefordshire through the development of local products, dishes and recipes, and raising awareness of these products through promotion via marketing literature, websites and the annual Flavours Food Festival. The scheme welcomes all business operators with a dedication to providing a quality eating experience for their customers, from the smallest B&B to the most innovative food producer. The profile of the scheme, now celebrating it’s twelfth year, continues to grow and the Awards themselves are more hotly contested than ever.

The RHS Pomona Award

The Pomona Award has been developed by the RHS in partnership with Herefordshire’s Year in the Orchard committee. The intention is to celebrate the wonders of Herefordshire’s orchard heritage and the genius of Thomas Andrew Knight. For more information on the year, the events and what Thomas Andrew Knight achieved visit www.yearintheorchard.com  Applicants must think creatively about their orchards, such as what happens in them through the year, what is their impact on the wider community and what do they do to enhance the environment? This is to discover more about the orchards of the County to promote and celebrate the best, the most innovative, the most diverse and the most historic

Winners and sponsor details

Wye Valley Brewery is a long established Herefordshire family brewer of renowned ales and beers www.wyevalleybrewery.co.uk

Herefordshire College of Technology provides dedicated and qualification training for young chefs www.hct.ac.uk

Axon Enterprises, one of the UK’s leading wholesalers of catering equipment, has a huge range of quality catering equipment available direct in Herefordshire. Supported by Electrolux, Axon is working with Herefordshire Food Festival to promote quality local food stored displayed, cooked and served on an extensive range of catering equipment. Contact www.willoughby-pr.co.uk or www.axon-enterprises.co.uk

For further information contact:

Heidi Chamberlain Jones, MinxMedia Ltd, M: 07713 243869 heidi@minxmedia.co.uk

Sixth Food Festival

PRESS RELEASE

FLAVOURS OF HEREFORDSHIRE FOOD FESTIVAL 22-23 OCTOBER

The sixth annual Flavours of Herefordshire Food Festival enjoyed a beautifully sunny harvest weekend and thousands of visitors were treated to three live daily demonstrations by celebrity AA Rosette and Michelin Star chef Jean Christophe Novelli, compered by the playful banter of Katie Johnson. The Frenchman met many of the exhibitors and thoroughly enjoyed interacting with the crowds in and around the festival, also signing hundreds of programmes for keen fans. One particular supporter, Mary Collen, even travelled all the way from Northern Ireland to see and meet her idol. Young fans William and Jacob Cooper were delighted to have their DVD and book autographed and to be photographed with an equally amiable Novelli.

The expansive food pavilions hosted a tremendous variety of high quality producers and purveyors of food products, many of which were used in the various cookery demonstrations in both theatres throughout the weekend, giving the audiences great inspiration on how to use the products and consequently buy them.

Sir Ben Gill, Chairman of Visit Herefordshire enthused “The County’s food and drink industry presented itself in a highly attractive and innovative way to the visitor at the festival. The move to encourage the use of exhibitor products in the demonstration kitchens had a clear benefit, which we wished to use to demystify the menu of food and drink available around us.”

Apart from Monsieur Novelli other star attractions were the lively cook-offs between young chefs from the county, in boys and girls challenges that were judged by Jean Christophe and Stuart Flint from Electrolux. In partnership with Axon Enterprises Electrolux sponsored this event and provided the prize of a set of professional knives to the winning young chefs, Lydia Taylor from Herefordshire College of Technology and Cal Banner from Wilton Court Restaurant.

Matt Slocombe from the Crown Inn, Woolhope, and Sir Ben Gill, Visit Herefordshire Chairman, had a hilarious challenge to do the perfect roast beef dinner in 45 minutes including Yorkshire puddings. The School of Choc gave a delicious chocolate masterclass, while Tomas Cook from A Cook’s Kitchen showed amazing ways with pork from G&R Tudge. Dorothy Bridges from the Pudding Shop shared history and recipes for a traditional Christmas pudding and Herefordshire Bee Keepers told us all about bees and honey.

Other prize winners included those for the Apple Pie and Pear Crumble competition which was staged in High Town in the week before the festival, who were Jo Wright and Susannah Edmunds respectively. Each was presented with a hamper from Herefordshire Farmers’ Market by HFM Chairman David Griffiths and Jean Christophe Novelli. And the winner of the best stand in the Food Pavilion was Love Patisserie and for the Farmers Market was Whyle House Lamb. Herefordshire Bee Keepers won the prize for their amazing honey.

 

END

Editors’ Notes:

The 6th annual Flavours of Herefordshire food festival was facilitated by Visit Herefordshire and organised by Jenny Beard. 2012 will see a change of venue from Hereford Racecourse and more information can be provided on request.

 

Source MinxMedia.co.uk   heidi@minxmedia.co.uk M: 07713 24389