Pictured above: José Vega, head chef of
Masa Restaurant
The head chef of Masa Restaurant in Derby has been chosen to
cook up a stir alongside celebrity chefs Alan Coxon and Rachel
Green at the Chatsworth Country Fair.
José Vega has been given the prestigious honour of
kick-starting the cookery demonstrations at the three day event,
which takes place between Friday 3 and Sunday 5 September 2010.
Now in its 29th year, the Chatsworth Country Fair is, according
to its honorary president, TV gardener, Alan Titchmarsh, 'the
finest outdoor show in England'. It is expected to attract in
the region of 70,000 people thanks to its unique blend of
countryside pursuits and daredevil displays, such as those by the
Red Arrows - and since its launch four years ago, the Fine Food
Village with its live demonstrations by celebrities and local
talents, has become a firm favourite with visitors.
And it will be here, that José will be wowing the crowds
with his culinary expertise. José, who worked for
critically acclaimed restaurants across France and the UK including
the Michelin-starred Montacarlo in Monaco before joining Masa as
head chef, will take to the stage at 11am on both Friday and
Saturday - his only brief is that he must entertain the audience.
He is now working hard to put together a mouth watering menu of
delicious delights that will reflect Masa's ethos of using the
finest seasonal, local ingredients.
Chatsworth Country Fair organiser Christopher Lloyd Owen said
that Masa and José came to his attention thanks to the
awards that the restaurant had won.
He said: "We are always on the look out for new culinary talent
for the Show and Masa's name kept cropping up. The restaurant
has received a wealth of accolades including an Enjoy England
Tourism Award and two AA Rosettes for the quality of its menu and
service, making José the perfect choice for our
demonstrations."
José added: "Naturally, I'm a little nervous to be the
first chef on stage, especially as this is my first year at the
show. But it's a tremendous honour to have been asked to give
demonstrations at the Chatsworth Country Fair and I'm delighted to
be involved.
"I am now preparing a dinner party-style menu that will allow
people to impress their family and friends, without being too
complicated so that visitors can remember and replicate the dish
back at home."
Masa Restaurant and Wine Bar is a fine dining restaurant set in
a beautifully converted chapel on Brook Street in Derby. It
has established a reputation for offering an extensive and
sumptuous menu, backed by the highest standards of quality and
service - all in an elegant and ambient setting. As a result,
it received two AA rosettes as well a bronze award at the 2008
Midlands Enjoy England Excellence Awards.
The restaurant is open from Wednesday to Friday from 12 until
2.30pm then for evening service and all day on Sunday.
Customers can choose from either the a la carte or set menus
(Wednesday to Friday only), which are created using the finest,
local ingredients wherever possible.
It can seat up to 70 guests in the galleried restaurant and 100
guests in the downstairs bar, making it the perfect venue for civil
services, wedding receptions and corporate events.
The Chatsworth Country Fair is taking place between 3 and 5
September and offers a wealth of fun for the whole family. As
well as the chef demonstrations, attractions include The Red
Arrows, The White Helmets Motorcycle Display Team, Falconry,
Terrier Racing, Massed Pipe Bands and much, much more.