Spectacular Live-fire-cooking event at glittering Cave Hotel wows NKC Students

North Kent College catering students were invited to the Cave Hotel, Boughton-under-Blean, to gain a sneak peek into the fabulous new opening that everybody’s talking about.

Executive Chef John Bingley and Head Chef Andy Holden welcomed eighty fellow chefs and hospitality professionals and NKC students at Kent’s newest luxury destination hotel and restaurant, located within a short drive from Canterbury.

Cave Hotel opened for a soft launch at the beginning of the Summer and it now the destination of choice for Kent’s glitterati, weddings and corporate events.  The multi-million-pound construction project is finally coming to an end and promises guests a truly luxurious experience once formally launched next month.

John said ““I am delighted to host this event today.  I always look forward to Chefs’ Forum events as a chance to catch up with all of my culinary peers and inspire young chefs and hospitality professionals. Today was an excellent opportunity to showcase the Cave operation and all of the exciting things we do here to ensure the best possible guest experience.  I am extremely proud of Andy and my team and was very impressed with the students from North Kent College.”

John and his team have recently returned from a culinary research trip to America to research pit cooking for the food offer at Cave Hotel.  The day started with a team briefing of the students by John and Andy and Sergio, F&B Director to the front of house and kitchen students from North Kent College.

The NKC young chefs were welcomed into the kitchen by John and Andy and told of the canapé menu they would create.

The students worked hard to create and impressive menu of canapés for the guests who would arrive at midday comprising: • Coke-glazed pork belly bites • Smoked brisket croquettes • Goats cheese red onion cones • Spiced pulled lamb cones

The day then commenced with a brilliant pork butchery demonstration with finest Norton’s Speciality pork from award-winning butchers Walter Rose & Sons.  Voted Butchers Shop of the Year in 2016, Walter Rose is delighted to have been shortlisted as a finalist again this year.

Director, Jack Cook showcased various cuts from the pork fore to achieve high-margin tasty dishes on chefs’ menus. The beautiful pork cuts were then grilled to perfection on the Kamado Joe by Sue Stoneman, Southwest Chef of the Year.

John and Andy then took to the demo stage to give a brilliant demonstration of the unique cooking style offered by their brand-new Fire Pit Restaurant.

The talented duo showed the chefs how to prep beef brisket for the smoker and then opened a freshly cooked one for everyone to try.

The chefs were then treated to an absolute banquet:

. Marinated beef fillet with roskoff onion and miso butter sauce

. Whole Indian Cauliflower Cheese

. Glazed Sweet Potato with miso sauce finished in the style of crème brûlée

The guests all tucked-in to the veritable feast offered by Team Cave and were full of admiration for the new cooking styles coined by John straight from his culinary tour of the United States of America!

Sue Stoneman then invited the guests onto the terrace for a presentation of the Kamado Joe ceramic grill, where she showcased focaccia, Walter Rose pork cuts and a cider and apple cake on the Junior Joe. 

The day ended with a series of tours and show-rounds of the new hotel and Fire Pit Restaurant by John and the team.  A great day was had by all and many culinary memories made as the chefs used the event to catch-up with each other, network and discover some great produce and equipment.

The next Chefs’ Forum event will take place on the 25th November in the form of a Chefs’ Lunch at North Kent College. 

Photo L-R: Harley Baker, Mercy Ackleton, Ryan Sinacola, John Bingley, Matthew Cripps, Andy Holden, Tanis Ribbens, Jordan Maleed, Ben Northwood and Holly Law.