Inaugural Celebrity Chef Week at Eden has T Rex eggs on the menu
Paul Ainsworth, the well known celebrity chef has had a cracking idea as to how to celebrate the harvest season at the Eden Project. He has created a sumptuous dish which, in his own words, look like baby dinosaur eggs.
Paul is just one of many culinary stars set to make an appearance at Eden’s first Celebrity Chef Week which takes place from 7th-15th September. He will be cooking one of his favourite signature dishes; scotch eggs made with smoked haddock accompanied by black pudding and coronation mayonnaise.
Paul, who runs his Michelin starred Padstow restaurant Paul Ainsworth at No.6 is appearing on Sunday 8th September and says that he is extremely excited at the prospect of cooking against the backdrop of the world famous biomes.
He said: “I feel like such a young boy again at Eden when you see giant plants that are bigger than you. You go through the biggest doors I’ve ever seen in my life. It’s absolutely amazing. It all reminds me of JurassicPark. Fittingly, my scotch egg looks like a baby tyrannosaurus rex egg that could be found somewhere among all the jungly plants and trees.”
Paul added: “This dish is really personal to me. I’ve always had smoked haddock on the menu in some way as it is such an incredible ingredient. This version has got to be my favourite. There are so many textures to it, from the crispy crunchy outside, to the flavoursome fish, then the runny egg inside, which surprises people.”
A classically trained chef, Paul served his apprenticeship working under some of the most respected figures of the contemporary era. In London from 1998, he spent two years with Gary Rhodes at Rhodes in the Square, and then six years with Gordon Ramsay working at Royal Hospital Road.
Earlier this year, Paul appeared on the BBC2 TV series Great British Menu. Competing against some of the nation’s top chefs, Paul won the regional heats to represent the South West. Celebrity Chef Week at Eden kicks off on Saturday September 7 with the appearance of Monica Galetti, judge on the BBC’s Masterchef: The Professionals and protégé of Michel Roux, Jr.
On September 9 Eden is dedicating a day to sushi-making with demonstrations on preparing the Japanese delicacy and how to make fiery wasabi straight from the plant, while on September 10, Allegra McEvedy, chef in residence at The Guardian and co-presenter of BBC2’s Economy Gastronomy, will be the star of Eden’s demo kitchen.
John Whaite, winner of last year’s BBC series The Great British Bake Off, will be at Eden on September 11 and food writer and 2011 winner of the BBC’s Masterchef Tim Anderson, will be showing off his culinary skills on September 13.
Throughout the harvest season, the chefs will also be sharing tasty array of hints, tips and recipes on the Eden website, including John Whaite’s recipe for pesto, balsamic and garlic bread, as well as an easy method to make ice cream with the help of ice cubes and a plastic bag.
Other highlights of Eden’s Harvest festival include a week dedicated to beer, wine and cider from September 28 to October 5, culminating in a beer festival featuring up to a hundred beers, as well as a festival celebrating the African super-fruit Baobab from October 8 to 13.
On every day throughout the five week harvest season – September 7 to October 13 – Eden will be hosting talks from local chefs and food producers as well as food and drink sampling. Eden’s chefs and horticulturists will also be on hand to talk to visitors and there will be special food-themed displays across the site.
With the exception of the beer festival, Harvest at Eden activities are included in the admission price to Eden. The beer festival runs from 6pm to midnight on October 5 and tickets cost £10 per person. This includes four beer tokens and a commemorative glass. For more information, go to: http://www.edenproject.com/visit-us/whats-on/other-activities/harvest-
