On Friday August 1st an open top bus was seen driving through Worthing with a few rowdy people on it that we would like to talk to……!

After a great day of golf at Slinfold Golf Club raising money for 2 local charities and a superb 4 course dinner cooked by Dan Clarke, Master Chef of Great Britain a few of the guests stepped on the open top bus for a ride of a lifetime!

The journey took us from Eastland’s Estate near Billingshurst down the A24 towards Worthing at a steady pace. We enjoyed the views of the passing cars as they tooted their horns maybe admiring our singing….. or not!

There were definitely some contenders for Britain’s NOT got Talent and Pop Idiot!

One of the hooligans said “It was like being at a football match all singing and shouting and generally having  a great time…. reminded me of being a kid again”….. I would think so as his age is nearer 50!

Anyway our journey ended at the Wheatsheaf pub in Richmond Road and I am sure you would of seen or heard us coming if you were anywhere in SUSSEX!

The night finished off with a little night cap at the Sheaf and we all went home and lived happily ever after!

I have been for the past 4 weeks watching the Great British Feast hosted by Marco Pierre White undoubtedly one of the world’s finest chefs and what a programme it was!

It was truly inspirational for me as a chef to see a true legend going back to his roots and searching for the best British ingredients he could find.

Marco spent many of his years cooking classical French cuisine to the highest level you can reach as a chef which is 3 Michelin Stars! He then decided 10 years ago to give it all up and take some time out. He then crossed our path’s last year on Hell’s Kitchen and what a performance that was, a true motivator and full of knowledge and energy it was inspirational!

What I found amazing was that Marco had a clear vision of what he was looking to achieve and create and he went around Britain already knowing what he wanted but was almost looking for reassurance it was their, It was available and most of all it was the best of British.

I as a chef in Sussex think it’s so important to use local and British produce, we are surrounded by the best ingredients and yes sometimes you need to look very deep to get them but they are out there!

We buy all our fish from the boats that go out of Littlehampton, our meat is as local as possible using Sussex Lamb and Game, Our vegetables are local and we even pick our own Strawberry’s & Rhubarb when possible.

The great British Feast is now over but Marco has I believe put a real important point across that if it’s out there and available you can use the best produce which is British….

Well Done Marco….. A True Genius

Red Anywhere’s new kitchens in Littlehampton, West Sussex hosted the final of the Lion’s Den Challenge which is an annual event for young adults from Littlehampton Community School to be put to the test in lots of different scenarios and challenges!

4 Students from Littlehampton School had already completed 3 demanding challenges over the last 3 months and now the school wanted their final test to really test them….. It certainly did!

Sara Hopkins - Community Liaison Manager at Littlehampton School contacted me and asked if i would come up with a challenge for the final test, I thought about it and quickly said yes!

i decided to set them a challenge of creating a Pud for a celebrity that had to have a wow factor, this was quite significant as I had recently had to do the same for R and B Singer Jamelia a couple of weeks ago.

All 4 students had 1 hour to prepare a dessert for 2 people and serve to a panel of judges. The students only had 5 days to do their research and come up with a recipe and then purchase the ingredients and also practise the dish at home!

They were marked on seasonality of ingredients, presentation, flavour, texture and balance and also the way they worked in a commercial kitchen environment!

i have to say they all did very well and the standard was very good as these students were not chefs and some may of not ever cooked a thing in their life! They all stood up to the challenge and all served their puds within the 1 hour time limit…. Phew!

The judges were made up of Me, Editor of the Littlehampton Gazette, Deputy Mayor of Littlehampton and members of Arun District Council…. We deliberated and cogitated and had an extended discussion on the eventual winner.

It was very close and we also had to take into account the last 3 challenges they had all been in, they were not just judged on this challenge but on overall….. First prize was a Laptop and an IPod so a lot at stake!

We eventually decided on a winner and got the students and guests together, I spoke of the standard reached by all the students and how proud they should all be of their efforts, but there could only be 1 winner and that was………..Andrew Sula who created a mouth watering dessert of White Chocolate Mousse with fresh crushed Raspberries set in a White Chocolate Cup and surrounded by a fresh Raspberry Sauce!

Second place went to Rosie Lewis who created an upside down cheesecake which tasted sublime!

Joint third went to 2 lads, Simon Nicholls and Chris Holland-Skinner both did very well and one of the lads even attempted to create a recipe from Gordon Ramsay’s book…… very brave!

Well done to you all and as I said earlier watch out Ramsey, Oliver and Delia!

Dan Clarke

Creative Chef Red Anywhere