Talented Chefs

CHESTER & CHESHIRE’S TALENTED CHEFS & HOSTS

This initiative was launched in 2007 to showcase the achievements of local, young talented chefs, giving them the opportunity to demonstrate their passion and creativity to their local community.  This project highlights success stories, spotlights on eateries across Cheshire, helps promote and attract more entrants to this industry.  The success of this project relies heavily on media support and we have been fortunate to secure the participation of DeWinter PR & Marketing to cover all our press releases.  

The events will take place on the last Tuesday evening of each month commencing at 7.00pm with dinner at 7.30pm and finishing at approximately 10pm.  The participating restaurants allow their nominated young chefs to devise a signature menu and have control of the kitchen for an evening to prepare their menu, mentored by their Head Chef.

NEW for this series is the introduction of Cheshire’s Young Host which will spotlight on any of your front of house staff who you consider should be recognized and showcased.

The event is open to the public at a maximum cost of £20 per head for a minimum of a three course meal which includes a glass of wine. Bookings are made directly with the venue, and a member of Visit Chester & Cheshire and any visiting sponsor will make a short speech on the evening and make the presentations. 

The young chef will receive:

• A framed copy of their menu
• A commemorative plate for both the chef and the hosting business sponsored by Villeroy & Boch
• A chefs jacket sponsored by Tibard work wear
• Coffee for the evening is sponsored by Illy coffee
• Gerrard Seel  sponsor a pre-dinner drink and a magnum of prosseco for the young host
• Robinsons Brewery will sponsor a beer tasting and provide a beer to accompany the cheese course
• Joseph Heler Cheese sponsor the cheese course at each event
• Hi-Life Diners Club - offering each guest and each event a two month, complimentary membership to Hi-Life

Visit Chester & Cheshire’s Skills & Productivity Executive Pam Billington, will visit any  restaurant across Cheshire who contacts us to explain the project in more detail and to raise interest in participation and agree the dates that each would sign up to.  The Young Chefs will be photographed by a professional photographer during the evening for a future press release, featuring the menu design, a picture of the chef and a career and training synopsis. 
Visit Chester & Cheshire will fund the menu design and production for all evenings, all menus will feature their branding and logos and those of all sponsors supporting this initiative alongside the information and branding of the featured venue.

Once you confirm that you wish to participate please provide me with the following information so all sponsorship items and PR can be prepared:-

• image and name of the young chef participating
• image of the outside of the venue and the restaurant
• .jpg of any logos you wish to be used
• short synopsis about the young chef’s and hosts career to date
• short synopsis on the venue
• copy of the young chefs menu
• jacket size of the chef (eg; 42", not medium to be sure we get the correct size)

It is hoped that at specific points in the year the participating young chefs will be invited to participate in one of Cheshire’s three Food Festivals and be encouraged to enter various competitions as they occur. The young chefs will also be invited to do PR work, Careers Fairs and act as young industry Ambassadors at local schools. 

This project is now moving in to its fourth year, there is a very loyal following of regular supporters of Cheshire’s Talented Chefs and numbers attending regularly reaches between 50–70 and has been known to attract 100 guests in the past.  Should your restaurant only have limited accommodation then a second evening can be provided if you wish, otherwise, booking is on a first come first served basis.

Once your event is confirmed I will then:

•   organise all the promotional activities
•   advertise the evening in your local press
•   attend the evening and make the speech
•   organise the press release after the event
•   print the menus for the evening and bring them along on the night
•   co-ordinate the whole project for the year
•   email my database of past attendees to promote each event

 View dates for 2010