A FAMILY-owned restaurant in Chester was put under the spotlight at a recent regional awards ceremony.
Managers of restaurant La Cantina, based in Boughton, hosted the ‘Talented Young Chef Evening’ using their menu of products from across Cheshire and Italy.
The event, organised by destination management organisation Visit Chester & Cheshire (VCC), celebrates culinary talent across the region.
The chef of the evening was 24-year-old Dave Hogan, who has previously worked at Pitcher and Piano.
VCC spokesman Pam Billington said: “The Talented Young Chef evenings are an excellent way to expose the talent of young chefs from across Cheshire and provide an outlet for them to explore their drive and passion for food. Dave certainly rose to the occasion.”
The team devised a gourmet Venetian feast, including Trota in Blu (locally sourced Trout in a white wine, herb and lemon sauce), Risotto di Asparagi e Scampi (risotto with poached Cheshire asparagus and fresh fish) and Selezione di Carne di Cheshire (a selection of local meats served in traditional Venetian style).
All dishes were accompanied by complementary wines from the restaurant and the evening was completed with a complementary course of Joseph Heler’s award-winning cheeses and coffee courtesy of Illy coffee.
Dave Hogan, a deputy manager of the restaurant, tackled a two-night challenge of running the kitchen and designing a menu to accommodate a fully booked restaurant.
The young host for the evening was assistant deputy manager Francesca Evans, daughter of owner Liz and her part Italian husband Mark, who was presented with a magnum of Prosecco by Gerrard Seel wines to congratulate her for her efforts.
Dave will receive a commemorative plate courtesy of Villeroy & Boch and a Chef’s jacket from Tibard to congratulate him for his efforts.