Chris and his head chef Steve Smith, will also take part in the Bidwells Norwich & Norfolk Food Festival 2007 on Sunday 14th October 2007 at 11.15am in the John Lewis Cookery Theatre at The Forum, where he will join Norfolk’s other leading chefs to celebrate the great tastes of Norfolk with continuous cookery demonstrations using ingredients supplied by Waitrose, Norwich.
Chris is no stranger to Norfolk, in the eleven years he spent cooking for the heir to the throne, he spent much of his time at Sandringham with the Prince.
Commenting on his return to Norfolk, Chris Barber said: “After many years away from Norfolk, it is great to be back and able to use the foods from one of Britain's greatest natural larders. I am really excited to be involved with Cinema City and the Bidwells Norwich & Norfolk Food Festival, and although we are not open until the 19th, it is a great opportunity to showcase some of our dishes.
“It is a welcome change in our culture that we can now celebrate, food, cooks and restaurants in events dedicated to the cause - the Bidwells Norwich & Norfolk Food Festival is an exciting, vibrant and truly worthy event that will attract food lovers from the county, the region and beyond,” he continued.
More follows…
Unique to Norwich city centre, Cinema City is to be a venue that showcases ingredients from the region, served in a stylish and historic location. Chris will be helping the chefs source the best ingredients, and promises food to suit all budgets.
“Great food is all about great ingredients, and in Norfolk we have access to some of the best game, fish, and shellfish, along with top class fruit, vegetables, meat and dairy goods. I am very excited about being involved in this project and spending time in Norwich,” said Chris.
The Dining Rooms at Cinema City will include two glorious vaulted rooms previously hidden from the public and will serve a full restaurant menu to cinema audiences before and after screenings as well as discerning diners who simply want to eat well in a stunning and intimate location.
Chris is also designing a tempting bar menu, which will also be prepared in the new kitchen to the same high standards using local produce – all cooked with skill, care and simplicity.
The Bar will feature an exceptional range of beer, wines and spirits, soft drinks, tea and espresso coffee. In addition to The Bar and The Dining Rooms, Cinema City, will feature seating for drinkers and diners in a beautiful covered interior courtyard, and street side exterior terrace.
Cinema City reopens on 19th October 2007 as a state of the art three screen digitally equipped art house cinema. For a full list of events taking place during the Bidwells Norwich & Norfolk Food Festival 2007 click on www.norwichfoodfestival.co.uk or call 01603 727979. For the Hotel Catering School events, call 01603 773227.
New Events & Highlights for the Bidwells Norwich & Norfolk Food Festival 2007 include:
• Model Farm – find out where your food comes from, outside The Forum (13th October)
• Battle of the Bangers Sausage Competition – sample the sausages and decide on your favourite Norfolk sausage – outside The Forum (13th October)
• Hotel School Cookery Master Class with John Williams, Executive Chef at The Ritz, London (13th October)
• John Lewis Cookery Theatre demonstrations and RNAA Food Fair in The Forum (13th and 14th October)
• Adnams Ales Tastings at The Forum (13-20th October)
• Norfolk Chef of the Year Competition (15th October)
• Keith Floyd presents: Floyd Uncorked! The Life of a Bon Viveur at The Norwich Playhouse (15th October)
• Lunch Hour Food Festival – talks and lectures organised by the Institute of Food Research, Food Festival sandwiches and set lunch menus using local produce (15th-19th October)
• Moveable Feast (16th October)
• Tallest Jelly Competition - a schools challenge organised by the Institute of Food Research (17th October)
• Hospitality Awards Gala Dinner (21st October)