Ramsay masterclass at Woking school

3rd October 2008, 10:38am

Renowned Gordon Ramsay along with Mark Sargeant, head chef at Claridge’s in London, visited the Tante Marie school of Cookery earlier this week in Woking to demonstrate three recipes from Ramsay's new book, Cooking for Friends.

The Michelin-starred chef shared his skills with the pupils in everything from filleting fish to perfecting puff pastry with students who are currently learning the trade at the school.

He told them that cooking had never been a job but a passion for him. He also encouraged them to be adventurous, whether it be tasting foods blindfolded to savour their true flavour or taking themselves abroad for character-forming and to immerse themselves in foreign cookery.

Ramsay explained to them: "Food is like medicine, you read for 15 years before you get any form of return."

He went on to give an hour-long cookery demonstration, whilst speaking to the youngsters throughout, offering them his secrets of the trade as well as tips for their careers.

He advised them to "keep mistakes in the kitchen" and to be passionate about their work as they would end up spending more hours in the kitchen than with their own families.

His menu featured a red mullet followed by corn-fed chicken with braised peas and onions. Dessert was a pear and frangipane tart.

Back in March, Gordon Ramsay Holdings joined forces with Tante Marie's principal Andrew Maxwell and Lyndy Redding, who owns catering company Absolute Taste with McLaren boss Ron Dennis.

Selected graduates from diploma courses at the school have the chance to take on work placements at some of Ramsay's eateries including Gordon Ramsay's at Claridge's.

Click here to submit a comment!

Have your say!

To comment on this article, simply enter your name and email and send us your views. Please note that your comment will appear publicly below this article once it has been processed. For enquiries please email info@costsectorcatering.co.uk.