Carden Park chefs win royal praise

Three chefs from a top Chester hotel were among those commended by the Duchess of Cornwall on their three course menu at a luncheon following the opening of the National Assembly for Wales by the Queen in Cardiff.

The trio – Graham Tinsley, Harri Williams and Dion Jones – are all based at Carden Park Hotel, Golf Resort and Spa, as well as being members of the Welsh National Culinary Team, which cooked for the event.

The Duchess, who attended the opening ceremony with her husband the Prince of Wales, was particularly impressed by the dessert, gooseberry and apple charlotte with gooseberry fool and gooseberry ice cream

The menu opened with Brecon smoked salmon ravioli, salmon rillet and cucumber consommé, followed by a main course of herb crusted loin of Welsh Lamb, mini cottage pie and summer vegetables. The luncheon was held at the Wales Millennium Centre.

“The Royal party thought the menu was wonderful and the Duchess of Cornwall said she loved the dessert,” said Welsh team manager Graham Tinsley, who is executive chef at Carden Park, as well as being a director of the Castle Hotel, Conwy.

“When we came up with the menu, we looked at which products were in season. We submitted five separate menus to Buckingham Palace and the one that was chosen was perfect for the time of year.

“Welsh Lamb is at its best right now and asparagus, peas, broad beans and spring cabbage are all in season.”

It was the fourth time chefs from the Welsh team had cooked for the Queen at the opening of the National Assembly for Wales.

Two young chefs de partie completed the Carden trio within the 14-strong team; Harri Williams, 19, who is the reigning North Wales Junior Chef of the Year, and Dion Jones, 23, who was named 2010 Young Chef of the Year in the Chester Food and Drink awards.

Graham and Dion were previously members of the Welsh team which won the annual Battle for the Dragon contest against top chefs from Switzerland and Finland. The Welsh National Culinary Team was also invited to bake one of the official cakes in honour of the wedding of Prince William to Catherine Middleton, now the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The cake was subsequently donated to the Centre Point Charity where Prince William is patron.

Lovers of good food wishing to sample dishes prepared by Graham and the Carden Park team can do so in the hotel’s AA Rosette award winning Redmond’s Restaurant or the relaxed and contemporary ambiance of The Brasserie. To make a reservation visit: cardenpark.co.uk