A Chef's View

                                                     Third from right at Waterton park Hotel

Over the years I have seen many chefs come and go.

 Some were pompous, some nice, some rude, some ruled by the moon, some good, some bad, some very good, and some very bad.

Many had an extensive vocabulary of Kitchen language. Gordon Ramsay's kitchen is not that untypical. In a working kitchen, the atmosphere is not like a Delia smith programme.

The TV chefs I admire are

Gary Rhodes

Anthony Worral Thompson

Two Fat Ladies

Rick Stein

There are quite a few who try to make it on TV who would not last a week in real working kitchen - Sorry, but no names!

When Mum and I watch cookery programmes my usual comment is "I can't get my breath" when I see some of the things that they do wrong.

Whilst I am no perfectionist there are ways of doing things the right and safe way and the celebrity chefs don't always put this over to the viewers. I often say "I can't believe that!"

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 my first hotel was the Waterton Park Hotel in Walton - read about it HERE

I am now on a course at Wakefield College doing a full time catering course - I am fortunate that I get one to one additional support at the College - without it I would sink!

Why do a catering course when I am already qualified? -well, I wanted to see what my capabilities would be and how I could cope in a kitchen and how I could do after my strokes. Things have moved on a lot since I qualified and even though I am the oldest student the younger students treat me as one of them and also with respect and come for advice about cooking! (Phil - what do I do about this? Bin it quick and run!!)

Although I say it myself, I am doing quite well and enjoying both the course and meeting people again.