Restaurant Festival announces 'American Express 10-10-10', a new landmark event created for the 2010 Festival in celebration of its ongoing partnership with American Express, to be held on the 10th October 2010.

This exclusive new event will see 20 of the UK's most celebrated chefs cast aside their creative competitiveness and work side-by-side to create ten never-eaten-before collaborative Sunday lunch menus. With 12 Michelin stars between them, chefs pairings include Alain Roux of The Waterside in with Hibiscus' Claude Bosi, Raymand Blanc from Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons and Bruno Loubet of Bistro Bruno Loubet.

The above pairings will work together in the host London chef's kitchen to create ten bespoke Sunday lunch menu, showcasing both their individual styles as well as some interesting collaborative ideas.

A unique opportunity, the event offers American Express Cardmembers the chance to explore some of the most remarkable talent from outside the capital city through ten one-off collaborations.

Fay Maschler, Chair of The London Restaurant Festival and restaurant critic for the London Evening Standard, commented: "Of course the Festival was created to celebrate the matchless range of restaurants in London and the talent for which the city is the forcing ground, but this year we also want to bridge that divide between 'us and them' - chefs working in London and those in the rest of the UK. The American Express 10-10-10 event brings together natural peers, some of them friends, some just colleagues in an industry that fosters creativity and productive rivalry. The personalities that have come together to plan unique meals will produce a one-off occasion that is certain to divert and delight as well as fostering camaraderie and experimentation in customers and chefs alike".

Raymond Blanc from the two Michelin starred Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons in Great Milton commented: "This culinary event showcases the immense wealth of talent in Britain today. It is a privilege to be involved. It is always a huge pleasure to cook alongside Bruno again, who worked with me at Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons. I consider him to be one of the best chefs in Britain, a brilliant teacher and also my friend."

Raymond Blanc's American Express 10-10-10 partner, Bruno Loubet of Bistro Brun Loubet, added: "Working alongside Raymond for the London Restaurant Festival will be the highlight of the year for me and all the team at Bistrot Bruno Loubet"

World renowned chef Alain Roux from The Waterside Inn, Bray, which currently holds three Michelin stars said: "I am very excited to join Claude Bosi at his restaurant Hibiscus. For me it is a way of showing a small part of The Waterside Inn to people in London who may not be able to travel to us. I am very proud to be part of the chef pairing in which is quite a prestigious list of famous, well respected and acclaimed chefs. Cooking with Claude Bosi will be the first time for me. Being from Lyon in France, which is the capital of the French gastronomy, I am sure I will be in my element and we will create a mouth-watering menu together."

Chef Claude Bosi of the two Michelin-starred Hibiscus added: "I think 10-10-10 is a brilliant idea. Restaurants outside of London are not championed enough so joining the two is a great combination. I am delighted to welcome Alain Roux to Hibiscus; I have always admired his cooking and know that we'll make a great team!"

Great British Menu chef Tom Kerridge of Michelin starred The Hand and Flowers, Marlow, said: "Having worked for nearly 10 years in London before moving outside the M25, I can't wait for this great opportunity to get back into the kitchens of Soho and get cooking. I am really looking forward to being part of London Restaurant Festival and consider it an honour to be one of the 10 chefs chosen from outside London."

"American Express shares our Cardmembers' passion for the diverse and vibrant dining culture that London offers" says Tara Looney, Director, Brand and Communications for American Express. "We are excited to be able to bring Cardmembers exclusive access to an exciting range of offers and truly memorable experiences through the unique American Express 10-10-10 event."

My business partner and I went on aÂ*scounting missionÂ*to the Cape Town fresh produce market in Epping recently, and as we were wandering around we stumbled across a crate of the most beautiful looking pumpkins.Â* I just had to get one. As this is a mass buying market, its not always the easiest trying to buy a [...]

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Simon King, chef/proprietor at restaurant 1861 in Cross Ash near Abergavenny has been invited to give a cookery demonstration at the Abergavenny Food Festival on Saturday, September 18.

Simon will be on the Market Hall stage at 11am.

To celebrate his participation in the food calendar’s most prestigious event Simon and his wife Kate will be hosting two gourmet dinners on Friday 17 September and Saturday September 18.

Tom Innes from Fingal Rock in Monmouth will also be giving a talk about his passion for wine and his travels around the globe to source the best wines from exciting small vineyards.

“We are delighted to welcome Tom to 1861. It’s a pleasure for us to be able to support a local retailer, and especially one who takes such care to select his wine,” says Simon.

Simon has put together a special menu to complement the wines chosen by Tom Innes.

The menu includes:

Duo of Confit and Smoked Duck, Sweet and Sour Cherries

Chiroubles 2007 Domaine des Marrans - a cru Beaujolais from a domaine based in Fleurie on a perfectly exposed south-facing vineyard, steeply sloping (giving excellent drainage), and old vines; the resulting wine has a smoky/spicy dimension to its flavour, with good freshness (acidity) - an excellent partner for the duck.

Fillet of Hake, Shellfish Cream

Saint Romain “La Combe Bazin” 2007 Domaine Pascal Prunier-Bonheur -
a full, rich white burgundy, made in the style of a Meursault, where Pascal Prunier lives.

Supreme of Partridge En Croute

Santenay 1er cru “ Les Gravieres” 1971 Domaine de la Pousse d’Or -an outstanding, mature red burgundy from one of Burgundy's top domaines, based in Volnay - has developed gamey flavours through bottle age, which will go well the bird.

Apple and Bramble Soufflé, Crème Anglaise and Bramble Sorbet

Chaume 2007 Chateau Soucherie - a brilliant sweet wine from the Loire, made from the Chenin Blanc grape.

“Our gourmet dinners have proved to be hugely popular, which is why we have decided to hold them for two nights, at the weekend of the festival, when everyone’s thoughts will be focussed on fine food,” confirms Simon.

Cost: £60.00 per person, inclusive of VAT. Please contact 0845 388 1861 for further information.

*1861 recently celebrated its first inclusion in the Michelin guide.

The classic guide to exceptional restaurants has become known as the world’s most respected source of restaurant information.

I think chocolate nemesis is the best possible name they could have given to this cake.Â* I’m not reallyÂ*sureÂ*what it is. Its part cake, part mousse butÂ*without a doubt, itsÂ*100% decadent, dark, delicious and totally irresistible.I was pleased that I made it for a friends birthday and gave it away immediately, thus having the temptation [...]

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The recipe can be found here.

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Tyddyn Llan in Llandrillo is included in the Good Food Guide’s Top 60 UK restaurants. Clocking in at number 28, means that Tyddyn Llan is the highest rated restaurant in Wales.

The accolade adds to the Denbighshire restaurant with rooms roster of gongs - chef/proprietor Bryan Webb was awarded a Michelin star earlier this year, and became a Masterchefs fellow in 2009, and Tyddyn Llan was also voted The Good Food Guide readers’ favourite restaurant in Wales in 2009.

“I’m totally delighted, this came as a shock - it was completely unexpected after the other recent successes,” says Bryan Webb.

“My wife Susan and I feel that creating a complete experience for guests is important. For that reason I always cook the breakfasts myself for example, as it’s vital that our guests depart with a feelgood factor.”

Bryan turned 50 last week, and unlike many chefs of his stature, he still cooks every day – and has the burns to prove it.

“I like the hands-on experience of cooking, an executive role is not for me,” he says.

In addition to winning the praise of Matthew Fort in The Guardian, Franco Taruschio who founded the famous Walnut Tree near Abergavenny, is a big fan, and he and his wife Ann stay at Tyddyn Llan whenever they can.

“Bryan’s food is honest and unpretentious. He cooks from the heart. The joy of eating Bryan’s food stays with us for days,” he enthuses.

Tyddyn Llan is also rated as one of Matthew Fort of The Guardian’s UK Top Ten restaurants.

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There’s a new food market in the burbs and I popped past there last Saturday to check it out.Its the Constantia fine food and wine market at the Constantia sports centre.It happens every second Saturday, and whilst quite small and intimate now, there are plans to expand it further duringÂ*the summer months.Conveniently located with ample [...]

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