Adam Gray, Head Chef at Gary Rhodes’ eponymous one Michelin starred restaurant “Rhodes Twenty Four” in the City of London returned to Northampton last week. Adam has had a high profile career starting as pot washer at the Red Lion in East Haddon , and soon after, moving to London to work at the Four Seasons Hotel under the tutelage of Bruno Loubet. Australia then beckoned, where Adam and a friend established a renowned restaurant in Melbourne which won “Australia’s Best New Restaurant Award” in it’s first year of operation. Adam then returned to Blighty where he worked as Chef de Partie at Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons with the acclaimed  Raymond Blanc. Gary Rhodes then appointed Adam as Head Chef of his City Rhodes restaurant, where he maintained the existing Michelin star. Adam then went on to open Gary’s new restaurant “Rhodes Twenty Four” where he won a Michelin star in 2005, which he has maintained to this day. Adam is responsible for developing all menus and uses predominantly British produce, allowing quality to shine through by not combining too many ingredients in any one dish. This means that every single component has to be cooked to perfection making the task even more daunting! 

In 2003 Adam set up the “Chef’s Academy” at Northampton College where he was a student. The Academy offers work experience to gifted catering and hospitality students. Over 30 students have completed work experience placements at Rhodes Twenty Four with some securing full time employment. Every year Adam returns to the College and transforms the college’s kitchen and restaurant to Michelin standards as part of a two day intensive training course for selected students. At the end of the two days the students cook and serve a six course meal, accompanied by selected wines, to 80 specially invited guests. The menu last week showcased wonderful Northamptonshire produce:
White Tomato Soup – Amuse Bouche
Free range Pork & Sage Haslet Terrine, crisp Apple & Radish salad
Pitsford Trout Fishcake, crisp Fennel & Farrington’s oil lime dressing
Slow cooked Northamptonshire Lamb with Buttered Broad Beans & Apple Mint Jelly
Iced Sticky Date Mousse with Toffee Sauce 

At some point Adam has his sights fixed on returning to Northamptonshire and setting up his own restaurant/s. Until then, we must wait with bellies rumbling  in anticipation; watch this space…..

Copy and pictures supplied by www.grazeandguzzle.co.uk

Adam Gray, head chef of the Michelin star ‘Rhodes Twenty Four’ in London, which is one of Gary Rhodes’ restaurants, will be returning to the show to headline the live cooking theatre, the ‘Courts Courtyard’.  Having grown up in the County and undertaken his training at Northampton College, Adam is delighted to be at the event. “I am very proud to be involved in the Holdenby Food Show again this year” Adam says. “It has definitely become a permanent fixture in Northamptonshire’s culinary calendar”.

Also this year, the show will also see the top chef Stephen Bulmer entertaining the audiences at the show. Stephen, who is now the head chef and owner of Brook Hall Cookery School in Winslow, near Buckingham, has had huge experience working in very prestigious restaurants across England. Most recently he was Chef/Director of the Raymond Blanc Cookery School at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons for the last six years.

Visitors will also have the chance to try the finalists in the Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards, before the final ‘taste off’ takes place at the show with the hotly contested results being announced live on the second day of the Show. A shortlist of nine finalists are in the running for the two awards, Best Local Drink and Best Local Produce. The Awards, which have been devised by Northamptonshire Enterprise Ltd in partnership with the Holdenby Food Show, are aimed at celebrating all that is great about the county’s produce and drink. 

Show organisers, Stonehouse Events Ltd, are delighted to have local company Bell on board this year too, who will be at the show demonstrating how to cook tasty treats on an Aga throughout the event on their stand. A. Bell and Company have been in Northampton since 1898 and offer a wealth of experience and knowledge over a large range of quality products, including stunning, top quality kitchens, bathrooms, stoves and gas barbeques.

This year also sees a second demonstration area at the event, the ‘Simply Specialists featuring Shires Cookery School’, which will comprise a mixture of varied sessions including from how to successfully flambé strawberries, testing your knowledge on healthy eating plus how to create tasty Indian dishes by an International Award Winning Chef.

Held at Holdenby House, just north of Northampton, this delicious day out will showcase a wonderful range of products to tempt you, plus plenty of opportunities to taste fantastic flavours of our region and beyond. Top quality and imaginative kitchen and home accessories will also be available, to create a great shopping experience.

With a licensed bar located on the picturesque front lawn of Holdenby House, plus the gardens and grounds of Holdenby House to sit and relax in while listening to love music, this food event will be a perfect destination for food fans everywhere. Holdenby House is also open both days too, admission included in the entrance fee. There is even a chance to play croquet thanks to Northamptonshire Croquet Club who will be on hand to give visitors tips on the tactics of this perfect summer game.

The ‘Holdenby Food Show sponsored by Bell’ takes place on 30^th and 31^st August, open 11am – 5pm each day. For more information call Stonehouse Events on 01604 820011, or see www.stonehouse-events.co.uk.

Come along to the Simply Specialists marquee and enter our competition to win a day with Shires Cookery School.

Enjoyed by thousands of visitors in previous years, the show promises to be a treat for anyone who likes great food and drink, along with family fun and entertainment all set in beautiful surroundings. With a fantastic mix of local, regional and other fine quality food and drink producers and suppliers, plus more, it is a tasty and exciting family day out.

Held at Holdenby House, just north of Northampton, this delicious event will showcase a wonderful range of products to tempt you, plus plenty of opportunities to taste fantastic flavours of our region and beyond.

Shires will be hosting the Simply Specialists marquee – come along and see a fantastic range of demos taking place over the weekend.

Returning again this year by popular demand is Adam Gray, Head Chef of the Michelin starred ‘Rhodes Twenty Four’ at Tower 42 in London. He will be headlining the live demonstration programme on both days, located in the ‘Cooks Courtyard’. Having close personal roots with Northamptonshire, as well as having trained at Northampton College, Adam is always keen to be involved in this great Holdenby event, helping to put local food and drink on the map. Adam will be cooking at the event on both days.

“I am very proud to be involved in the Holdenby Food Show again this year” Adam says. “It is a great opportunity for Northamptonshire to show the outstanding and varied produce it has to offer”.

Also this year, the show will also see the top chef Stephen Bulmer entertaining the audiences at the show. Stephen, who is now the owner of Brook Hall Cookery School in Winslow, near Buckingham, has had huge experience working in very prestigious restaurants across England. Most recently he was Chef/Director of the Raymond Blanc Cookery School at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons for the last six years, before which he had his own Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant, Atelier, in Soho.

‘I’m delighted to be demonstrating at the Holdenby Food Show’ explained Stephen Bulmer. ‘It’s a great day out. The range and quality local produce on sale is always inspiring’ he said.

The Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards are also being launched at this years show, thanks to a partnership between Northamptonshire Enterprise and show organisers, Stonehouse Events.

With a licensed bar located on the picturesque front lawn of Holdenby House, plus the gardens and grounds of Holdenby House to sit and relax in while listening to live music, this food event will be a perfect destination for food fans everywhere. Holdenby House is also open both days too, admission included in the entrance fee.

The ‘Holdenby Food Show takes place on 30^th and 31^st August, open 11am – 5pm each day. For more information call Stonehouse Events on 01604 820011, or see www.stonehouse-events.co.uk.