March news

So, the Michelin guide results came out in January – no big surpises but delighted that Pétrus retained its second star. Well done team!

I have a busy couple of months ahead: my second book ‘One Perfect Ingredient’ hits the shelves in less than four weeks. I am really pleased with the book - it’s very different to the last one in looks and food although it still contains lots of tried and tested recipes. Fewer photos of the kids this time in fact just one tiny one that we could not resist!

On April 4th I will be at The Ideal Home Show demonstrating some dishes and then signing copies of the new book on the Waterstone’s stand.

The following week, 7th and 8th April I will be at The Northern Restaurant and Bar Show in Manchester. It has become a bit of a regular trip home for me, catching up with colleagues and even my lecturers from my college days. Again I shall demonstrate a few dishes and then sign books. On the evening of 7th April I’m looking forward to attending the Northern Hospitality Awards, it’s great that chefs from the North are recognised for their talents and achievements, which can sometimes be overshadowed by the London restaurants.

Last week I took part in the judging of the 2008 Masterchef competition. I joined a group of fellow chefs to taste the dishes prepared by the competitors at The Dorchester with Aiden Byrne.

I really enjoyed catching up with fellow chefs, to find out how business is for them, where they have eaten, who to watch at the moment etc. but, in addition, I was pleasantly surprised to taste some excellent food prepared by the three cooks Jonny, Emily and James. The dishes themselves were out of this world and obviously down to Aiden Byrne but the execution was pretty good.

I have already filmed Celebrity Masterchef - a competitor joined me in the kitchen at Pétrus for a day, which should be interesting viewing although I am not exactly sure when it airs!