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A RETURN TO THE SMALL SCREEN …
BY PAUL ASKEW , CHEF PATRON OF THE ART SCHOOL RESTAURANT
Every year , after the busy festive period , we close the restaurant for a week to allow the team to recharge their batteries . When I opened the restaurant , I promised myself we ’ d have Christmas and Boxing Day off so the brigade could spend time with their families and after a very busy period , and we ’ d take time to reflect and relax .
I start 2022 in optimistic mood , December was an interesting month for the restaurant , as like many of our friends in the sector we too had several party cancellations . A good Christmas period provides the foundations for January and February , and I ’ m pleased to say bookings for these months are in-line with pre-pandemic levels as we return to some sort of normality and welcome new dishes and menus .
The team and I were delighted to be asked to cater for the summit of Foreign and Development Ministers from the G7 held in Liverpool in December .
UK representatives were joined by counterparts from the US , France , Germany , Italy , Canada , Japan , and the EU over 3 days , from Friday 10 until Sunday 12 December . It was a massive opportunity to demonstrate how far our city and our culinary scene has developed and one which I thoroughly enjoyed .
Our outside events have provided us with some fantastic opportunities to showcase our passion for the culinary arts over the years . This year we ’ ll add a new outside event to our calendar , Aintree Racecourse , home of the world ’ s greatest steeplechase . We were due to open “ The Art School at Aintree ” at the Grand National in 2020 and had spent a significant amount of time preparing the venue for your arrival only for plans to be put on hold due to lock-down . Now , two years on , those plans will be realised .
In the restaurant , our events schedule to celebrate my forty years in the industry continues with our trinity of Master Sommeliers , Ronan Sayburn , Demetri Mesnard and Nigel Wilkinson who will join me and the team pairing their wine knowledge to a feast of dishes . There are one or two tables left for this event and when I ’ m reminded that more people have been to space than achieved the honour of Master Sommelier since its inception in 1953 the magnitude of what we ’ ve managed to arrange truly hits home .
Squeezed in-between our Master Sommelier and St Valentines ’ events I will be back on your small screen .
I ’ ll be joining our good friend Simon Rimmer on Sunday Brunch on Sunday 30th January , my third appearance on the show and , if previous trips are anything to go by , one that promises to be another great day .
Back in the restaurant we will open on Monday 14th February for dinner service only and we ’ ve been busy putting the final touches to our St Valentines ’ menus , bookings can be made through our website .
2022 has started on a positive note , all things crossed it remains that way .
Best as ever Chef Askew
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