MENU dorset issue 25 MENU25.dorset pdf issue 25.final | Page 40

CHEF!
New Head Tutor Stephen
Bulmer tells us what we
can learn at The Kitchen
T
he Kitchen at Chewton
Glen has a new Head
Cookery Tutor, with the kind
of pedigree you might expect
from one of Hampshire’s finest
venues. Stephen Bulmer is
now the second most famous
Yorkshireman at The Kitchen,
but clearly delighted to find
himself in our neck of the
woods. He told Menu what we
can look forward to…
How did you find yourself
at Chewton Glen?
40
I was at the prestigious
Swinton Park Cookery School
in Yorkshire, where I had
taken over from Rosemary
Shrager. I had to leave behind
all the hunting, shooting and
fishing but I had a big database
of guests from my time at
Raymond Blanc’s Cookery
School, so I did cookery
evenings in people’s homes.
Then I got the call asking if I’d
like to come and have a look at
Chewton Glen, where I arrived
in May.
What goes on in the
classes at The Kitchen?
Rob, who’s just left, did many
different types of classes
and there’s a really eclectic
mix of everything from fish
to Moroccan and Italian.
James Martin obviously is an
influence and he teaches here
once a month. We have some
James Martin special courses,
and I’ll be offering the same
look at old time classics. With
James, we can mix and match
his style. His cooking is right
up my street.
I’m a fish chef by trade, so
I’m looking to build the fish
repertoire up, as well as the
Italian and game. I’m looking
to take it to the next stage with
some new courses that use the
local ingredients, such as a
crab evening where we look at
preparing crab. They’re aimed at
the amateur cook, though.
What is the setup?
There are 12 sections, each with
its own oven, range, hob and
utensils. I’ll do a little demo and
then you’ll go off and cook it.
I’m as hands-on as I can be. I was
Chef Director at Raymond Blanc
Cookery School for about 15
years, so I’m used to running lots
of different courses like this.
What local produce are you
excited about?
You’ll leave some courses
with gifts and treats you’ve
made yourself.
The Kitchen
Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa
New Forest, Hampshire,
BH25 6QS
Tel: [phone]
www.chewtonglen.com
www.menu-dorset.co.uk