TREASURE BEACH Hotel on Barbados’ gold coast will play host to award winning British chef Paul Wedgwood later this month.
The celebrity chef, who thrilled diners during an exotic Barbadian dinner at his restaurant in Edinburgh, Scotland, last December, will be hosted by Treasure Beach’s management from March 26-30.
He will work hand in hand with Barbadian chef Kirk Kirton, to tantalize diners with his mouth-watering, savoury dishes during a week-long event where both chefs will display their culinary skills.
Of course, Wedgwood will be making good use of locally produced products.
Head chef of last year’s Celtic Festival, Wedgwood believes that being a good chef entails forever learning more about food.
“To be a good chef, you must never stop learning and the opportunity to work in a completely different country and use Caribbean ingredients gives me the chance to absorb culinary practices from there and then adapt what I learn to my own style, thus always keeping my style changing and different from anyone else,” Wedgwood was quoted as saying.
During the Celtic Festival, this skilled chef created a fusion of different dishes and flavours by utilizing lots of local ingredients and meats – including the Black Belly sheep. He also made good use of local rum, coconuts, mangos, pumpkin, lime, Bajan pork, and created his own version of fish cake – among other delicacies.
Wedgwood, owner of Wedgwood The Restaurant, began his career in the Lake District of Scotland where he worked in a variety of establishments – from pubs and leisure parks to fine dining Michelin-star restaurants.
He was particularly inspired by working under celebrity chef John Tovey at Miller Howe in Windermere. A passionate and ambitious chef, Wedgwood’s long term goal was always to open a fine dining restaurant in which he would combine his experiences to offer fine dining in informal surroundings with excellent service.
In 1999, he opened the Georgian House Bar in Kendal, which was hugely successful despite being located in a working-class market town. Six years later, on a visit with his wife Lisa to his parents in Edinburgh, the couple’s dreams were realized when they found the venue for Wedgwood the Restaurant.
This restaurant has quickly become a key player in the Edinburgh restaurant scene and Wedgwood, with his vivacious and enthusiastic character, is often called upon to perform cooking demonstrations throughout the United Kingdom. He is also a regular favourite at the Taste of Edinburgh Festival.
In addition to representing Scotland at last year’s Celtic Festival in Barbados, where he became quite a celebrity with numerous radio and live televised interviews, Wedgwood delighted guests in Edinburgh last December by serving up pudding and souse, sword fish curry on pumpkin, miniature macaroni pie, cou cou and a lime and coconut pie for dessert.
The dinner was supported by the Barbados Tourism Authority’s office in the United Kingdom.
Wedgwood’s recent accolades include:
December 2010 – featured in The Daily Telegraph best places to dine in Edinburgh
October 2010 – Scottish Restaurant Awards – shortlisted for Fine Dining Experience, Best Urban Restaurant and Newcomer.
October 2010 – Sunday Times – Named in Top 10 Scottish Foodie Destinations
October 2010 – Restaurant of the Year – Scottish Licensed Trade News Awards
September 2010 – Featured in Relish Scotland
Cook Book
June 2010 – Fodor’s Choice of Distinction Award (one of only four in Edinburgh)
January 2010 – Harden’s Best UK Up and
Coming Restaurant
May 2009 – Scottish Chef Awards – Silver medal, City Chef of the Year
