Restaurateur Russell Brown heads Chefs’ Forum (From Dorset Echo)

Restaurateur Russell Brown heads Chefs’ Forum

3:30pm Monday 18th February 2013 in News By James Tourgout

TOP chef Russell Brown of Dorchester has attended the launch of the new Dorset branch of the Chefs’ Forum.

The Michelin-starred restaurateur is heading up the group with fellow chef Matt Budden and Gary Kilminster of Bournemouth and Poole College.

The launch was held at the college with dishes served by students.

Russell, Dorset’s only Michelin-starred chef, said: “The launch of the Dorset branch of the Chefs’ Forum is an exciting opportunity for chefs to engage more with colleges, students and suppliers. It is about creating benefits for all concerned.

“The lunch at Bournemouth and Poole College was just the start of things to come and, I hope, gave everyone an insight into what is possible if we all work together.”

Russell added: “Top local chefs such as Brett Sutton from the Eastbury Hotel and Matt Budden from the Highcliff Marriott have already embraced the idea of the forum, along with Dorset suppliers including Blackacre Farm Eggs and Samways fish merchants.

“It will be great to work with them and Gary Kilminster from Bournemouth and Poole College to strengthen the relationships that already exist between the college, local chefs, students and suppliers.”

The chefs tucked into a three-course lunch. It included chicken consommé to start, trio of pork with seasonal vegetables for the main and warm chocolate tart with raspberry jelly and vanilla yoghurt sorbet to finish. NVQ Level 3 day release chef students prepared the starter and the main course while VRQ Level 1 chef students made the dessert with their front-of-house peers serving. The college is recognised by the World Association of Chefs Societies (WACS), a global network of top cooks, for its culinary education programme – labelling it one of the best 20 in the world.