Chefs Shine: Richard Fox of Paesano at the Leverhulme Hotel

Jun 30 2010 by Matt Hurst, Birkenhead News

Chefs Shine: Richard Fox of Paesano at the Leverhulme Hotel

PAESANO head chef Richard Fox is bringing some of Wirral’s finest produce to the table with a light, summer menu.

Competing in his first Chefs Shine, the 24-year-old has developed a collection of dishes that deliver a “twist on foods everybody knows”.

Engaging with the competition’s mantra of making the best use of locally sourced ingredients, Richard will be picking the fruit he utilises and foraging along Wirral’s shoreline for samphire and other delights.

And although he’s never taken part in this contest before, Richard achieved a commendable tenth in the BBC Masterchef Professionals heats last year.

Originally from St Helens, Richard has been at Paesano, in the Leverhulme Hotel, since August, and has wasted no time discovering the best sources of fresh, tasty ingredients.

He said: “It’s just nice to know all this stuff is available here in Wirral, and I can go out and see it being grown.

“There’s nothing better than going to the farm, seeing it being grown and then cooking it the same day.”

Richard trained initially as a pastry chef, after being inspired to cook by his family and friends as he grew up.

He was named St Helens Chef of the Year when he was only 17 and has since worked in some of the country’s finest kitchens, culminating in his role as head pastry chef at Liverpool’s London Carriage Works and demi chef at the Hillbark Hotel in Frankby.

He says he loves “the artistic design of dishes” and the freedom being head chef brings.

Richard said: “I get to design my own things and everybody seems happy with it.”