A TOP chef has been inspiring students with her culinary skills after returning to the region to open her own restaurant.
Ruth Hansom-Rigby, who has featured several times on television, staged a masterclass with students at Darlington College.
Now 28, Ruth, went to London when she was just 16 to perfect her craft after being mentored by lecturers at Darlington College.
After studying at London’s Westminster Kingsway College she was head chef at Princess of Shoreditch, in the capital, before completing a six month residency at Swinton Castle, Masham.
On TV she appeared on Million Pound Menu, the Great British Menu and on cooking programmes hosted by Matt Tebbutt and James Martin. In February she opened her own restaurant in Bedale – Hansom Restaurant and Wine Bar.
Ruth has kept in touch with Darlington College and was asked to stage a masterclass by senior lecturer Dawn Cobb-Neate.
NVQ Level 2 and 3 professional cookery students watched the chef prepare a main dish of red mullet with bisque, fennel and carrot before they prepared their own version of the dish.
Dawn said: “This has been a phenomenal opportunity for our students. Ruth is homegrown talent who has done so well in her career and therefore provides our leaners with some great aspirations.”
Darlington-born Ruth added: “It is always nice to give something back to the community and I do a lot with the organisation Future Chef, which helps encourage the next generation of chefs.
“The college kitchens are excellent and it has been great working with such attentive students. My restaurant is going well and my aim is to be consistent and have happy customers.”
For more information on opportunities at Darlington College visit www.darlington.ac.uk.
