Chefs from the Runwood Homes group take part in culinary masterclass at Billingsgate market

Runwood Homes chefs from around the country were invited to Billingsgate market to take part in a culinary experience sponsored by Robot coupé UK.

This year’s event was hosted by cookbook author and TV chef, CJ Jackson.

The day started at 5:30am on Wednesday the 30^th of August, where 9 chefs from Runwood Homes and Sanders Senior Living arrived for a tour of the market and to look at the produce on the stalls. The teams tasked CJ to find cost-effective species for Fish and chips across Runwood Homes and to complete a taste comparison test when cooked.

At the market, the team purchased Cod, Haddock, Pollock, Hake, Tilapia, Whiting and Coley which made their way back to the cookery school, where the chefs learned from CJ on how to prepare and fillet the different selection of fish.

After preparing each dish in tempura batter for the blind taste test, Cod reigned victorious in terms of flavour, with Hake as a close second.

Chefs were then split into 4 teams and asked to prepare a fresh batter using an array of ingredients – each chef produced some interesting flavour combinations including katsu curry batter and gram flour batter, but the overall winners were Tracey from Elizabeth House and Joyce from Windle court who prepared a beer and chilli batter that wowed the judges.

In the second half of the day, chefs were asked to work individually to create a main course dish using one of the fish that they had purchased from the market earlier in the day, plus five other ingredients, with butter and oil being classed as an ingredient.

The chefs were given 10 minutes to choose ingredients and set their station, and 30 minutes to produce their dishes. An interesting array of dishes was presented to the judges, ranging from a ramen bowl, kedgeree, to a twist to the classic fish and chips.

The overall winner was Michael Kirwan from Redbond Lodge care home, who cooked a brown butter cod with garlic roast potato bites and a pea, dill and lemon purée. Michael’s dish was awarded first place for the overall flavour, fish cookery and presentation.

Chris Williams, Group Hospitality and Catering Manager at Runwood Homes, said: “What a fantastic day we had at Billingham Market for a masterclass in seafood organised by Robot coupé UK and CJ Jackson.

It was outstanding to see all our participants hard work and dedication at this year’s culinary masterclass, and want to congratulate all our winners for their achievements. A huge well done to all our 9 focus group chefs who attended and a big thank you to CJ Jackson for presenting an excellent experience.”

Carol Jackson, CEO of Billingsgate Seaford School, said: “We were delighted to invite the team of chefs at Runwood Homes to be guests of Robot Coupe on one of my masterclasses at Billingsgate. It was a pleasure taking a group around the market, and they were so engaged with everything they saw.

The chefs in both challenges worked incredibly hard, and the competition was so fierce that it was almost impossible to choose the winner.

We have a lot of fun running these days; the teams are always inspired to create fantastic dishes and feels great to see their hard work being recognised by their employers.”

For more information, please visit: www.runwoodhomes.co.uk