Food News- May 2008

Above: Heston Blumenthal

Above: Windsor Castle pub

Above: The new Brasserie Centrale

Above: Above: Lisa Amato at Browns.

Heston Blumenthal seeks amateur chefs
Bray-based celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal is launching a nationwide search to find budding amateur chefs to attend the Diamond Standard Finishing School. The culinary alchemist, famous for his award-winning restaurant The Fat Duck, is looking for ten aspiring amateur chefs from across the country to take part in a master class, where they will have a chance to cook with Heston in his kitchens in Bray.

The competition, run by Finish Quantum dishwasher tablets, invites people with a passion for culinary perfection to enter the competition through the Finish website www.finish.co.uk.  

On the online entry form, entrants will be asked, in no more than 50 words, to describe why they should be one of just ten selected to learn techniques Blumenthal uses to create some of the best food in the world.

The closing date for entries is June 30, 2008 and winners will attend the Diamond Standard Finishing School in Bray. The prize also includes a meal at The Fat Duck.

The ‘other’ Windsor Castle
The historic Windsor Castle pub, at the top of Castle Hill in Maidenhead, has re-opened after a £250,000 face-lift.

Under new ownership, it opens as a contemporary dining pub and has had a significant structural and cosmetic overhaul. The new owner and general manager, Misko Coric, says: “The site itself is in a prime position but the building was almost in ruin.�

With summer coming, the new owners have capitalised on one of the largest south-facing beer gardens in the locality by creating a raised decking area and a huge Yorkshire stone flagged terrace, “With warmer weather coming, outside we will regularly have barbecue hog roasts� says Misko.

New restaurant takes off at Heathrow Marriott
A new, contemporary-style restaurant has been launched at the Heathrow/Windsor Marriott as part of the hotel’s soon to be completed £5 million make-over.

The new Brasserie Centrale is a modern interpretation of a French brasserie with a menu specialising in French dishes with a British influence.

Chic design features in the new restaurant include a glass- enclosed wine wall displaying the fine selection of wines on offer. A separate library area has a display of cookery and travel books for diners to browse through.  Al fresco dining on the adjacent terrace is also expected to be very popular in the summer.

The hotel has given its more informal Chat’s Café Bar a smart new makeover with leather seating, high stools, quirky artwork and mirrors, as part of the scheme.

Music at Browns
Browns Bar & Brasserie Windsor now has a mini grand piano to entertain customers in the bar area.
Local businesses and residents will be able to enjoy live music from 6 - 9pm on Wednesday and Thursday and 5 - 8pm on Fridays.