Chef Demonstrator Heroes

We have many supporters at the Festival, some regulars and some new. They are all our heroes! Some Chef demonstrator supporters are here.
Click here to see our Chef's Top Tips

Fiona Bird Michael Cushing Rob Green Michael Hjort Ashley McCarthy
James Mackeenzie Stephanie Moon Andrew Pern Robert Taylor Sharmini Thomas
James Wright Richard Walton-Allen    

Fiona Bird

 

Fi Bird who lives in Kirrimuir, Scotland. Fiona was the winner of Scottish Masterchef and a finalist in the overall UK Masterchef
Fi is a self-taught passionate cook, with an approach to food based on knowledge of tight budgets and limited time. Campaigning for healthier diets and for cookery teaching at Primary schools, she writes articles and recipes extensively for several newspapers and magazines, including Green Parent, Organiclife and Tastes of Britain. She is a member of the Guild of Food Writers, and also develops recipes for Tern TV.
Fi and Dr Stephen Bird are the founders of Stirrin'Stuff, which works in partnerships to educate children about food. Stirrin'Stuff is committed to sustainable development and ethical best practice.

 
       
Michael Cushing
The Living Room
  

Mike worked in many kitchens honing his skills which led to him winning York's Young Chef of the Year award in 2002, this award enabled him to take on new jobs in Leeds and further a field to both Austria and Cyprus. Working aboard opened Mikes eyes to new ways of cooking and how important it was to express local culture and produce through his dishes. Since taking over as Head Chef at The Living Room York 4 years ago, it has always been his goal to not only run the standard a la carte menu but to support this with daily specials that reflect and showcase some of Yorkshires best produce, this can be seen in special dishes such Toad in the Hole with Wenslydale Mash.

  
 

Rob Green

 

Rob is Chef proprietor of Green's of Whitby a restaurant & bistro, situated on the Abbey side of the swing bridge. Rob is one of those luck Chef's who can choose seafood fresh from the quayside every morning. Passionate about the other great produce around Whitby the restaurant is also able to feature prime local meats and game. This access to produce along with h is talent have helped to take Green's' status to not only one of the finest restaurants in Whitby, but one of the finest restaurants in North Yorkshire.
www.greensofwhitby.com/

 
 

Michael Hjort

 
As well as running his two restaurants in York, Chef Propritor Michael Hjort finds the passion and energy to be Managing Director of York Food and Drink Festival. His focus, whether in his restaurants or for the Food Festival, is on local seasonal produce.
Michael constantly seeks to support the local economy, keep his carbon footprint to a minimum and concentrate on freshness and quality.
He can often be found doing demonstrations and workshops in local schools and the Festival is no different.
see Melton's Restaurant for Michael's fine dining restaurant and Melton's Too for his cafe bar bistro.
 
 
Ashley McCarthy

In 2004 Ashley and his wife Kelly bought Ye Old Sun Inn in Colton, transforming it to an award winning classic Yorkshire gastropub. Ashley began his career working in country inns and hotels in Yorkshire, and began passing on his expertise at York and Leeds Catering College. Since opening the Sun it has won numerous awards including Publican magazine's 'National Chef of the Year', 'Local Food Pub'; Yorkshire Life's 'Traditional Pub of the Year' as well as Yorkshire Tourist Board's 'Yorkshire Pub of the Year. www.yeoldsuninn.co.uk

 
 

James Mackeenzie

 
James Mackeenzie is chef/owner of the award winning Pipe and Glass Inn, South Dalton near Beverley. Just recently voted in the top 40 restaurants outside London at The London Restaurant awards. James food focuses on using well sourced local and seasonal produce. He and his wife Kate bought the Pipe and Glass in March 2006 after undergoing a full refurbishment the pub has gone on to gain both local and national crtical acclaim.
www.pipeandglass.co.uk
 
 
Stephanie Moon

Dorchester trained Stephanie Moon, was Yorkshire Life Chef of the year 2005 and Executive Chef for the 2 AA Rosette Clocktower Restaurant at Rudding Park in Harrogate. A keen demonstrator and competitor Stephanie is an regular at Yorkshire Events and Festivals, not only because of her strong presentation but also because of her keen interest in regional food. Most intriguingly this is displayed in Rudding's Yorkshire Tapas!

 
 

Andrew Pern

 

Andrew Pern is chef-proprietor of the Star Inn at Harome, near Helmsley in North Yorkshire. The Star is currently one of just eight pubs in the UK to have a Michelin star.
With his wife Jackie, Andrew has expanded to add rooms, a gourmet village shop and deli, an upmarket tearoom at Scampston, and a butcher’s shop in Helmsley.
See www.thestaratharome.co.uk for the restaurant.

  
 

Robert Ramsden

 
Robert Ramsden was head chef at the General Tarleton for some time and is now a key player for Delifresh Limited. Robert has supported the festival for some years and says, "The York Food Festival is a fantastic festival promoting and networking many of our counties true producers.
  I like to think of the festival as the Roots of Yorkshire, for the customer to meet the producer over the space of a week is a fantastic idea.
From the event every year I gain excitement and flair . The festival has become a  must on any food loving persons calendar. This year is going to be amazing"
www.delifreshltd.co.uk 

 
       
Robert Taylor  

Robert Taylor is the Cookery School Head Chef and was awarded UK Chef of the Year in 2008 by the Chaine de Rotisseurs. He trained under Simon Crannage in our award winning restaurant, and is Rosemary's assistant chef during all of her courses. Robert runs his own weekend residential course, most of our day courses, the Chef's Table demonstration dinners, Sunday Masterclass Lunches and the Pre-Dinner Bite Sized demonstrations.  Robert has also written recipes for Shepherd Purse Cheese.

 
 

Sharmini Thomas

 

Sharmini Thomas has been teaching Indian cookery for Adult education for past 10 years. Due to the growing interest and popularity of Indian cuisine, she is now conducting two sessions a week.
www.sharmini.co.uk

 
       
Richard
Walton-Allen 		 

Head Chef of the Fourth Floor Cafe & Bar at Harvey Nichols Leeds. Yorkhsire born and bred Richard's career ranges from Yorkshire venues like the Plough in Saxton and Ripley Castle, work with Sir Terence Conran in London and a stint in Melbourne Australia before returning to Harvey Nichols, where he had previously been Sous Chef.
Richard is a passionate advocate of Yorkshire produce and he and Harvey Nics have a great reputation as trainer of young talent.

 
 
James Wright

James Wright, of Taste Tradition, is an old favourite with the Festival and dazzels audiences with his butchery workshops. Coming from four generations in the meat industry, James developed an in depth and passionate knowledge about all aspects of the butchery trade. He says one of the highlights of recent years was winning Yorkshire & Humber meat supplier of the year. One area of the meat trade that he specialises in, is combining traditional skills with modern cutting specifications which enables the cheaper and most flavoursome cuts to be back on the menu (also a great way for chefs to increase their GP%). He says, "Working with the Ashbridge family at award winning Taste Tradition is really interesting - its great to be involved in the whole process from farm to fork."
Taste Tradition is a North Yorkshire farming family specialising in Rare Breed Pigs and Rare/Native Breed Cattle.