A TOP chef has given catering students a taste of fine dining as she helped them stage a culinary delight for the public.
Darlington College could have sold out twice over as news spread that North Yorkshire restaurateur Ruth Hansom-Rigby was helping host an event in its Glasshouse restaurant.
The owner of the Michelin Guide-listed Hansom Restaurant in Bedale and regular on the BBC’s Great British Menu spent two days with the college’s Culinary Arts Academy helping students design, prepare and serve a fine dining experience.
Ruth, originally from Darlington and mentored in her early days by a Darlington College chef, served her apprenticeship with the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts, a charity that also works in schools and colleges to encourage the next generation of chefs.
“It’s fascinating work,” she said. “For instance, when I was in a school in Masham the children knew all about pheasant and duck because they live in the countryside. But when I went to Luton pupils didn’t even know what a leek was.
“I love coming into Darlington College to help the students develop their skills and help them showcase classic dishes and what is new in the industry. It’s great to get them involved in staging an event but it’s important that they do the bulk of the work.”
The Glasshouse event sold out instantly with 42 guests enjoying a bespoke tasting menu. This featured rapeseed focaccia, Black Sheep Stout soda bread with whipped Marmite butter.
This was followed by slow cooked hens egg, smoked potato foam, Jerusalem artichoke, pickled mushroom and Madeira sauce.
Next came cured sea trout, rhubarb, blood orange, pickled ginger, coriander, followed by roasted duck, duck leg bon bon, spiced carrot, rainbow chard and pickled plum.
Dessert featured dark chocolate, beetroot and juniper sorbet with roasted hazelnut and lemon thyme truffle.
A recent review of Ruth’s restaurant by The Sunday Times food critic Giles Coren resulted in reservations being booked solid for a year.
“The food scene is no longer just in London,” she said. “We see clientele coming from all over the country and some staycation in the area as a result.
“I am usually in the kitchen on my own so it was lovely being at college and having so many helping hands. It was a great experience for the students under real pressure. It is what they will being doing in industry shortly and this will help them get a job.”
Charlie Pattison, 17, of Bedale, said: “Working with Ruth really did inspire me. I have always enjoyed coming to Darlington College where the facilities and tutors are great. One day, I hope to work as a chef in London.”
Senior lecturer Dawn Cobb-Neate added: “We are so grateful to Ruth for helping stage what was an incredible event that was thoroughly enjoyed by customers.
“We strive to make the learning experience at college as realistic as possible and to have such a renowned chef come and work with the students really does motivate them.”
For more information on opportunities at Darlington College visit www.darlington.ac.uk.