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Out of the way Oliver! And Ramsay you’ve had
your day! There are a couple of new kids in town and pretty soon they’re
going to be the ones with celebrity chef status.
For the past six months ambitious 21 year old chefs Wesley Speakman from
Skelmersdale and John Evans from Up Holland have been learning their
craft at one of the borough’s most exciting eateries, The Unicorn at
Billinge.
The hard working pair have been honing their skills thanks to the expert
tutelage of Chef Proprietor Andrew McLeod who has worked with the likes
of Gordon Ramsay. When they’re not working up a sweat behind the hob the
pair are studying hard for their catering qualifications. Now the fine
dining duo are ready to unleash some considerable culinary talents on an
unsuspecting world.
As part of the first ever Wigan Food and Drink Festival, Wesley and John
have been entered into the Manchester Young Chef of the Year
Competition. The competition brings together some of the best young
chefs from across the region to pit their skills against each other.
Wesley and John’s mentor Andrew McLeod said: “The Food Festival is a
brilliant idea and we are delighted to be involved. Wesley and John both
work very hard and we are proud to have them here with us at The
Unicorn. I’m sure the judges will be more than impressed. Hopefully this
event will be the launch pad for a great festival and will be a night
all of our customers will remember.”
Before they cook for the judges John and Wesley have got a tougher
audience to contend with – the press pack! On Thursday 27th September
the dynamic duo will be ushering in the Wigan Food and Drink Festival at
The Unicorn with a trailblazing event for an invited audience from the
media as well as members of the public.
The event, which is already a sell-out, promises some top-notch fayre.
Here’s just some of the treats Wesley and John will be offering:
• pressing of autumn game with celeriac cream, hazelnuts and Suka cress;
• marinated red mullet with vegetables a la grecque, pomme dauphine,
broad beans, peas and date jus;
• greaves of Upholland lamb fillet with slow cooked shoulder;
• a tasting of caramel, to include mousse, jelly, foam, ice cream and
cream.
Wigan Borough’s Food and Drink Festival, sponsored by TESCO, runs from
Friday 5th to Monday 15th October at venues across Wigan Borough.
Other attractions include:
• Wigan Fine Food Trail – highlighting some of the very best dining
experiences in Wigan Borough and beyond;
• The Road to Wigan Beer – a guide to some of the best pubs and real ale
in the borough;
• Jackbit – the launch of Wigan Borough’s very own cookbook with notable
recipes from well-known borough folk from Meena Patak to Stuart Maconie.
Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust’s Tourism Development Manager Keith
Bergman said: “Our borough may be best known for pies and mint balls,
which are both part of our culinary heritage, but we’ve got a lot more
to offer. We have a rapidly growing quality restaurant scene with some
of the country’s top chefs in charge. We have producers to be proud of
and pubs serving quality real ale, some brewed right here in the
borough.
“It’s going to be an exciting 10 days and we’re really looking forward
to future talent like Wesley and John kicking it all off for us. They’ve
got a tough job in front of a hard to please audience but they’re more
than up to the job. The menu is ready, the chefs are waiting…let the
feast begin!”
The 2007 festival programme is available from Wigan Tourist Information
Centre, Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust outlets and the partner
restaurants. For more information, contact Wigan Tourist Information
Centre 01942 825677, or visit
www.visitwigan.com/foodfest or
www.foodanddrinkfestival.com.
-ends-
NOTES TO EDITORS: For further information on this press release please
contact Chris Dunbar, Media and Public Relations Manager, on 01942
486937 or at
c.dunbar@wlct.org.
Alternatively contact Phil Green, Public Relations Officer, Wigan
Council on 01942 837369 or Keith Bergman, Tourism Development Manager on
01942 486951.
Sponsors and supporters: The Wigan Food and Drink Festival (part of the
Manchester Food and Drink Festival) is organised by Wigan Leisure and
Culture Trust. The Trust would like to thank the following sponsors for
their support: TESCO, Wigan Council, Allgates Brewery, Wigan CAMRA,
Wigan Market and Fiswal.
Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust: Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust is a
charitable trust working on behalf of Wigan Council to manage and
support leisure and cultural facilities, initiatives and events for over
300,000 residents in the Wigan Borough. See
www.wlct.org.
Getting Wigan Active: Getting Wigan Active is Wigan Leisure and Culture
Trust’s vision to help people across the Wigan Borough to become more
physically, mentally and creatively active. It also aims to increase
community activity and to encourage good citizenship.
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Wesley Speakman and John Evans
cooking up a storm at The Unicorn, Billinge |