A POPULAR college restaurant is reopening its doors with a flourish and the chance to sample a menu designed by a master chef.
Former Master Chef finalist David Garlinge will help professional cookery students at Darlington College present a tasting menu at its Glasshouse Restaurant, one of a programme of evening events to complement the relaunching of its popular lunch service for the general public.
David, of South Shields, wowed the judges of the BBC TV Master Chef competition with his culinary creations back in 2013.
Since then he has worked with Gordon Ramsay and in top restaurants all over the world including Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai, as well as being a private chef for the rich and famous.
On November 11 David will work with level 3 students to offer the discerning diners a six course tasting menu for just £22 per person.
The feast will include beetroot panna cotta, with walnuts and beetroot, a theatrical hay baked lamb that will arrive in a covering of smoke, steamed pollock with fermented mouli and seaweed powder, ginger and soy broth, BBQ beef with enoki mushrooms, pomme puree and cardamon glaze, lemon posset with lemon foam, eucalyptus powder, chocolate tort, black olive caramel, olive oil jelly and buttermilk sorbet. There will also be the chance to enjoy a wine pairing for each course.
David said: “We want our students to be the very best they can be and ready for industry. As a result this course is tough, requiring the highest standards.
“The tasting menu will be a three day process of preparation and cooking that will also identify team-players and leaders among the students. I will appoint a head chef for the evening and they will get a taste of the pressures they will experience in the world of work.
“For customers it is going to be a very high quality experience of restaurant standard food, one they will remember for a long time to come. At the same time they will be helping our students improve, so the more people who visit us the better the training and the higher the calibre our chefs will be when they come out of college.”
The Glasshouse Restaurant’s new manager Lesley Cain-Metcalf added: “Our regulars will be delighted to hear that we are open again for lunch as well as evening events.
“I trained at Darlington College many years ago and have lived and worked all over the world as well as run my own business. I was really excited to come back to help train the next generation of chefs and front of house staff in careers that can lead to some incredible experiences around the globe.
Anyone interested in the fine dining experience, from 6pm to 7.30pm, or wanting to book a table for lunch, should ring (01325) 503030. For more information on opportunities at Darlington College visit www.darlington.ac.uk.