“Chefs Put Your Menu Where Your Mouth Is!”

Steph with Ed Baines BBC1 Chefs put your menu where your mouth is

Well what a year so far…

This new TV programme called Chefs Put Your Menu Where Your Mouth Is on BBC1 this afternoon has been an amazing opportunity for me to cook against some of the most well known chefs in the country.

My challenge starts off with Ed Baines at Stoke Park, a stunning Country Club, Hotel and Spa  down in Buckinghamshire. This is right up my alley and reminded me of the beauty of Rudding Park.

Our challenge is shown on BBC1 at 3:45pm on Thursday 11th April. I hope you enjoy.

Next up is Mr James Tanner, a chef who cut his stripes on Ready Steady Cook alongside Ed Baines. This chef has had more TV experience than I have had hot dinners!

James and I have a challenge with a difference but if you get chance to tune in you will see it was great fun. I am away that week in Moscow so thank the lord for I-Player!

James with Steph outside their challenge

My last challenge is also a corker! A chance to cook with Michelin starred and regular Saturday Kitchen chef Galton Blackiston.

We were up against it again right in the heart of London so if you get chance please watch my last programme. What an honour to be the last show of the series on Friday 26 April at 3:45pm on BBC1.

Steph with Galton Blackiston for BBC1 Chefs put your Menu where your mouth is

And what an honour to be up against these three greats… along with the team at Reef TV, what dudes Emma Roberts Price, Alex D

Bring it on!

Steph x

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I Would Walk 500 miles!

Being a lifelong Proclaimers fan a chance to meet Craig and Charlie had me in a spin!

Sean wheels 500 miles and now does 500 more!

Sean Allerton from RAF Church Fenton is wheelchair bound after he was paralysed when serving with the RAF. Sean decided to set himself a challenge to wheel 500 miles.

The Proclaimers with Sean finishing his first 500 miles

So who better than The Proclaimers to set him off and most importantly see him home!

This former gunner wheeled for 6 charities that had helped him with his life changing accident.

Craig and Charlie were there to set him off on his way, sadly the weather was a little different on the way back! I went along with a friend who I begged an invite from. Thanks Ron.

Charlie Reid and Steph in the pouring sleet and rain (I look about 30 yrs older! bitter cold needed to try and keep my ears warm!)

Meeting Charlie on the walk was great fun. We discussed their gig at the Grassington Music Festival I went to see a few years back. Also the fact The Proclaimers are going back to America and doing a tour.

To sponsor Sean visit http://www.push500.com as he is now doing 500 more – Just as The Proclaimers sing!

But in the bitter cold of the airfield and the sleet and rain I kept thinking I need a hot toddy to warm me up!

And if I could of I would have given one to Sean and The Proclaimer lads.

So a Wild Cooks hot toddy with a difference

Please see recipe here…..

One vital ingredient is Honey and being a Yorkshire food fan it made perfect sense to use Yorkshire Honey- this is the ingredient that inspired the name of the latest resident in the Moon household please meet Honey!

This is Honey Moon! I know it is cheesy but i love it! We only call her Honey and occasionally Honey Monster!

Yes I have a hound! A King Charles Cavalier and she is 10 wks old.

I hope you try this simple hot toddy with a difference and enjoy!

 “I’m on ma way” as the boys would sing…

Lets hope it is “Sunshine on Leeds” soon a Yorkshire twist to a classic song from the guys.

 Steph x

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Boom Town Belfast

Wild Cooks,

I guess with any city, you have a preconceived idea of how it will be and following my visit there about 10 years ago I knew there where changes afoot.

Belfast has such a cutting edge food scene and I was privileged to experience two places with two of my Great British Menu peers.

The trip was simply a chance to have a few days off in a new city and recharge the batteries before the Christmas rush. Here at Rudding Park we have now sold out for Christmas day at Clocktower. Can you believe it!

Back to Belfast and in the words of my little nephew…

“It is not always all about food Aunty Steph!”  Well actually this weekend was a real mix but the highlights for me where definitely eating at James Street South and Deanes at Queens.

Late arrival in the city on Thursday meant a wander around and we stumbled on the Christmas market . I have to be honest a glass or two of mulled wine was consumed and a hotdog of German sausage with crispy onions started the weekend off quite literally with a banger!

The Friday morning was spent wandering through this stunning place and look what we found…

Art in Belfast

Then onto the Titanic and what a museum experience. This was a real eye opener, not in the horror of the sinking (we all know that) but in the growth of the docks and the building of this vessel. I really enjoyed looking around, getting a feel for all things Titanic and I also bought my little nephew’s Christmas present!

Then onto the first meal of my two G.B.M. buddies with a trip to James Street South and a chance to meet Niall McKenna who was rushing out to do a private dinner in his building next door.

Niall and me -what a great guy

James Street South – Superb Cod dish with braised gem and carrot puree.

What a great chap very friendly, he really made us welcome and introduced us to a great team. David the Manager and William the Bar Manager took great care of us and the Head Chef, Steve, was a lovely guy and very very talented.

James Street South – Head chef Steve -Top Man!

I found the food to be light, flavoursome and interesting. Thank you also goes to Sharn our waitress who was bubbly and fun.

James Street South pudding- Citrus and refreshing

But no rest in this city with Christmas shopping to do, you have everything within walking distance in the city centre- I definitely loaded up!

The next evening was a chance to meet one of the real characters and gastronomic gurus of Belfast Mr Michael Deane. Can you believe in my excitement I forgot to take his photo (Sorry Chef!) but I must admit it was an honour to meet a real Belfast success story. This chef has many high profile fans such as Roger Moore and U2 and I can see why the food is superb. Michael made us very welcome and talked to us about his restaurants and I was struck by what a passionate guy he was. Meeting his Head Chef, Chris Fearnan, at Deanes at Queens was great fun and highly gastronomic.

Deanes at Queens .Chris- what a Craic!

This chef’s food has been of great interest to me being a Great British Menu addict for obvious reasons!

I was not disappointed in this brassiere food in a busy restaurant. Check this out!

Chris what a top dessert

The evening started at 8pm and finished as the last table out at 1:30am- well done Chris you did us proud and many many thanks.

We should have visited Rankin’s but you cannot do them all and I have to leave something for next time!

So, after two indulgent days it was time to see what the rest of Northern Ireland had to offer and a chance to take the costal road to the Giants Causeway.

Wild cook at the Causeway

The Causeway was impressive and fun to walk over, look out to sea and read about the Myths.

Then our whistle stop tour ended with a real bit of Irish fun at the oldest distillery in Ireland. Bushmills.

Bushmills – The oldest Distillery in the World!

Can you believe I was driving!

Still what history! What aromas! And what a great tour (I recommend it!)

So that leaves me to toast Northern Ireland on a high.

“If you have not been to Belfast and Northern Ireland it is definitely your loss. Welcoming people (especially Chefs!), amazing food, stunning views, Titanic history and a contemporary city.”

A great Craic!

Steph x

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Skyfall in Harrogate!

00 heaven falling apples in Harrogate!

For wild cooks everywhere now is the time to fill your larders with some 00 Heaven!

James Bond- Daniel Craig is a local guy so perhaps he loves these apples as much as we do!

Bruised and battered apples that have done the ‘skyfall’ are the things we are all given and do not know what to do with.

The odd spot on the apple or slight bruising means eating raw is out of the question so why not roll up the sleeves wash your hands and get busy making some Autumn Chutney.

This is such a simple thing to make and everyone has a different recipe for chutney.

Here is my recipe but the advice I would give is do not be precious about your chutney. It is a robust thing just like Mr Bond!

THE RECIPE

A change of the recipe here and there makes this base your own and depending on your fruit availability can be adapted to other fruits –pears, plums and so on.

Chutney can more or less get out of any difficult situation you put it in and big pots of bubbling chutney can make amazing gifts at Christmas and not break the bank. Everyone will be impressed with your effort if nothing else!

Can you Adam and Eve it!

Steph x

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