Colin impresses again at first Chefs Shine event

May 21 2008 By Lorna Hughes

COULD it be second time lucky for Wirral Chefs Shine contender Colin Parry?

The La Paz chef, who won the competition in 2007, launched this year’s contest in style last week with a three-course meal with a strong emphasis on local produce.

Perfectionist Colin was delighted with the result - and diners agreed it was a storming start to the summer of chefs.

Colin served up a starter of Dee Estuary Shrimp and River Lune smoked wild salmon with Claremont asparagus and homemade wholemeal bread.

The main course was stuffed saddle of lamb, spring cabbage, garlic and glazed baby carrots, followed by a dessert of baked bramley apple, rhubarb and elderflower Alaska.

Shrimps were sourced from Mike Trigg of West Kirby, lamb from Callum Edge of Edge and Son Butchers in New Ferryand rhubarb and asparagus from Claremont Farm in Bebington.

Terry and Julia Wigley, from Ness, were impressed with Colin’s efforts last year and said this meal more than matched up.

They praised the night’s specially-designed placemats, which listed the suppliers of ingredients used in all three courses.

Local suppliers included Mike Trigg of West Kirby (shrimps), Edge and Son Butchers in New Ferry (lamb) and Claremont Farm in Bebington (rhubarb and asparagus).

Terry said: “It’s a nice touch that they tell you where the food comes from - it’s good to buy local as well.”

Friends Lillian Harris from Wallasey, Audrey Evans of Bebington and Brenda Bayley of Oxton praised the “excellent” presentation and the tenderness of the lamb in the main course.

Taking a break from the kitchen at the end of the night, chef Colin said: “It’s always good to do something different and it’s nice to come down to the restaurant and see what people think of our food.

“I was happy with the quality of the food and I was particularly pleased with the quality of the lamb we got in.

“It was well-bred, lean - everything you want lamb to be - so I hope the customers thought the same!”

Wirral Chefs Shine 2008 is supported by Wirral Council, organisers of the Wirral Tourism Awards for Excellence, The Mersey Partnership, Liverpool Community College and Wirral Met College.

l Find out who our second finalist is in next week’s News.