Meet the chefs
Aug 22 2008 by Jane Hall, The Journal
Name: Gareth Marks
Age: 35
Lives: Prudhoe, Northumberland, with wife Helen and step-daughter Chloe Thirliway, nine. Gareth also has a 10-year-old daughter, Keira Davis.
Job: Head chef, Macdonald Linden Hall Hotel, Golf and Country, Club, Longhorsley, Northumberland.
Claim to fame: Presented Tyne Tees TV’s A Taste of the North.
Food philosophy: “Keep it simple and do it well.”
Other projects currently on the go: “I’m starting a two-year certificate of education course in September at Newcastle College so I can pull some new kids through the ranks.”
You did Taste 1 at Gibside. What memories do you have of that? “It was a good buzz because we got the crowd involved in what they wanted to eat.”
Why are you supporting Taste 2? “Because this festival gives everyone access to what we have around us.”
What do you hope to get out of the Linden Hall event? “To show the young lads in the stable here at Linden Hall what this region has to offer.”
What do you hope the public will get out of Taste 2? “Education.”
What will you be cooking at Taste 2? “I’m going to use what people can buy on the day and create dishes from that.”
When to see Gareth: 1-1.30pm
Name: Richard Sim
Age: 39
Lives: Alnwick, Northumberland
Job: Consultant chef with Made in Northumberland, a tourism-backed project set up to showcase the county’s home-grown food and cultural ventures.
CV: Director of Fresh Element, the Newcastle-based bespoke catering company, director of Lamberts of Narrowgate, Alnwick, and partner in More Game.
Food philosophy: “Buy the best and keep it simple.”
Other projects currently on the go: Buying a hotel in Northumberland
You did Taste 1 at Gibside. What memories do you have of that? “A very educated crowd.”
Why are you supporting Taste 2? “It gives a great profile to food producers in the North East.”
What do you hope to get out of the Linden Hall event? “A fun day.”
What do you hope the public will get out of Taste 2? “To see good cooking can be easy.”
What will you be cooking at Taste 2? “Grouse a few different ways.”
When to see Richard: 1.45-2.15pm
Name: Kenny Atkinson
Age: 31
Lives: Holystone, North Tyneside
Job: Head chef at Seaham Hall’s Michelin star White Room Restaurant, County Durham
Claim to fame: Secured the first ever Michelin star earlier this year for the Scilly Isles at the Tean Restaurant on St Martin’s.
CV: Left school at 16 and worked in Newcastle’s Grainger Market before falling in love with cooking. Studied for two years at Newcastle College and has worked in the kitchens at the Vermont, Newcastle, the Mandarin Oriental, Hyde Park, London, Greenway Hotel, Cheltenham and Tean Restaurant, St Martin’s, Scilly Isles.
Food philosophy: “Quality ingredients, simplicity and flavour. I also believe in the ‘wow’ factor. I want people to be blown away by what I do.”
Other projects currently on the go: Ensuring the White Room retains its Michelin grading when the winners are announced early in 2009 – and in the process regain his own star status.
Why are you supporting Taste 2? “For the chance to meet so many local suppliers in one place, and being able to share my love of quality food with the wider public as my wife gets sick of me banging on about it!”
What do you hope the public will get out of Taste 2? “A greater knowledge of the quality ingredients available in this region.”
What will you be cooking at Taste 2? “I will be re-creating the ‘wow’ factor I believe in with a couple of dishes that look good, look exciting and use quality local, seasonal ingredients.”
When to see Kenny: 2.30-3pm
Taste 2 Food and Drink Festival
What is it? Journal Taste 2 food and drink festival in association with Tesco.
When? August 30
Where? The Macdonald Linden Hall Hotel, Golf and Country Club, Longhorsley near Morpeth, Northumberland.
Time:10am-4pm
What’s going to be there? The biggest and best food and drink fair ever held in the North East with stalls piled high with the freshest local produce, wine and beer marquee, Hairy Bikers Simon King and Dave Myers, former Newcastle United footballer David Ginola, popular national wine writer Malcolm Gluck, celebrity chef demos, wine and beer tastings with The Journal’s Helen Savage and Alastair Gilmour, children’s entertainment and live music.
How much? Entrance will be £5 per person with under-16s going free. But keep buying The Journal in the run-up to the event as we will be running a cut-price ticket promotion.
The Journal is indebted to the following firms and organisations for helping support Taste 2:
Tesco for sponsorship;
Made in Northumberland for sponsoring the drinks marquee and for practical support;
North East England Food and Drink Group for donating their mobile demonstration kitchen;
City Centre Partnership for supplying stalls.
