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I'm just trying to pass on food passion
His cooking has taken him around the world. But Gary Rhodes's most recent destination was right here in Calderdale. Virginia Mason reports
THE sticking-up, spiky hair which stood as tall as a perfectly-risen souffle was once a trademark of this much-loved chef.
It is less stuck-up these days (although still a little bit spiky) but Gary Rhodes remains essentially the same.
He still exudes that great mix of enthusiasm and creative talent that won the hearts and admiration of legions of fans when he first burst on to our TV screens in the 1980s.
They are fans who have remained loyal and fans who have continued to grow over the years, devotedly tuning in to a bouquet garni of top programmes including Rhodes Around Britain and Gary Rhodes At The Table, as well as lapping up his cook books (he has written 19 to date).
So it's not surprising then that for a small group of fans, it is a very special day. Gary has agreed to give his time free to support Halifax's new Cooking School, based at Dean Clough.
He has been a long-term friend and supporter of the Focus On Food Campaign, the innovative, educational body behind the school and a project which teaches around 40,000 children and students each year how to cook, as well as training 2,000 teachers how to teach cooking.
And those who have bought a coveted place to cook with Gary are not disappointed.
He expertly demonstrates a menu of delicious dishes from his latest cook book – Gary Rhodes 365 (a recipe for every day of the year) – including red mullet with fennel and olives, Wensleydale patties with pear mayonnaise and raspberry and white chocolate cream shortbreads.
"Today has been fantastic and I have loved every minute. When I walked in to the Cooking School I was gobsmacked. It is absolutely fantastic," he says of the state-of-the art kitchen.
"There's been a lovely atmosphere too because you never know how the audience will react. You don't know whether people are here because they have chosen to be or whether they're here because it's a present they've been given that they didn't want. But everyone has been keen to learn," he says.
He adds that he is in his element with live demonstrations but constraints on his time these days don't always allow for them.
"I really don't do enough of them. It's not just the demonstrating though, it's getting among people and being hands on, giving little tips and advice."
Gary's own passion for cooking began as a young boy growing up in Kent and he reveals that his first major culinary achievement was making a full Sunday roast dinner for his family at the age of 13.
"I loved it and I decided there and then I wanted to cook for a living but back then you could hardly tell your mates 'last night I made a lovely lemon sponge.' I'd have probably got beaten up."
However, once he had been offered a place at college he knew he would have to come clean.
"I finally plucked up courage to tell my best mate I was going to train as a cook. I was so nervous of his reaction but he just turned to me and said 'I've something to tell you, I'm off to the Ballet Rambert,'" he says, laughing.
"I also remember my mum telling people I'd got a college place and someone saying they knew someone who been awarded student of the year there. I knew that's what I wanted. That was my dream but as a young lad I thought it was unattainable."
But hard work and flair won him the coveted title, which was to be the beginning of a hugely successful career.
His training continued at some of the world's best hotels and restaurants and, at the age of 26, Gary became a head chef and won his first Michelin star.
His television career began to take off with regular appearances on BBC's Hot Chefs from 1988. Since then he has rarely been off the screens – and he has not always been in a kitchen setting. Last year he swopped his chef's whites for sequins when he took part in Strictly Come Dancing, teaming up with professional Karen Hardy.
In 1994, he got his own series, Rhodes Around Britain and the follow-up series, More Rhodes Around Britain, was an even bigger hit than the first.
Since then he has travelled the world fulfilling his culinary passions and opened a string of restaurants including in London, Dubai, Manchester close to his beloved Manchester United, and on two cruise ships as well as on the Caribbean island of Grenada where he was appointed culinary ambassador.
And along the way he has picked up a clutch of Michelin stars as well as an OBE in 2006.
"I do love experiencing foods from around the world because I love to see what spices they use and how they cook various dishes. But my first real, real passion has to be British fare because quite frankly we do produce some of the finest in the world," he says.
"It was about 25 years ago when it struck me that we were just not showing it off to its best advantage. That's when I decided to look at some good old British dishes and reinvent them – create a new passion for them if you like.
"People love these dishes from their past but have forgotten how good they can be – a lovely bread and butter pudding, for example, braised oxtails, fish cakes. Great classics which deserve reviving."
Gary's latest travels which took him to the Caribbean will be screened later this year.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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