AUTUMN
W L
AUTUMN
BY PAUL ASKEW , CHEF PATRON OF THE ART SCHOOL RESTAURANT
Welcome dear readers as we enter October , and autumn ’ s embrace with it . And , of course , we now ready ourselves for the fast-approaching Christmas countdown . For The Art School , Barnacle and everyone involved in hospitality , both locally and nationally , it ’ s these coming weeks we now build toward as the festive season grows ever closer .
As always , we like to keep ourselves busy . September has been a packed month for myself and the team including two major events – at the start of the month we welcomed some of the region ’ s leading media and special guests for the exciting launch of our Christmas brochure . Hot on its heels came our spectacular 10th anniversary event which included the unveiling of ‘ Le Cochon Volant ’ – but more of that a little later !
So first up – Christmas . It ’ s the time to be creative with the abundance of seasonal produce available , reflected in our display of time-honoured finedining set to the highest standards possible . We ’ ve got an array of menus to suit every taste , from full festive Taster Menu to the popular Prix Fixe , through to Excellence , Christmas Eve and finally New Year ’ s Eve variations , with an early Prix Fixe service followed by a Celebration Menu to see out the year with you in the finest of styles . We ’ re very proud of our festive offering and our extensive global wine list and seasonally crated cocktails to go with it . In addition , The Moriarty Room and The Art School ’ s Tasting Room are available to book for private Christmas gatherings , parties and events from the very intimate to the more sizeable . So , for gatherings big and small we have got you covered . My advice is to book as soon as you can as popular dates are filling fast .
My Christmas Emporium also returns and includes The Art School Gourmet Christmas Box , The Art School Gin Trio , The Art School Gift Box , The Christmas Sparkling Selection , The Caviar Hamper , and The Italian half dozen as gift ideas for loved ones . Vouchers are also available if it ’ s too hard to choose an actual gift . And in The Art School Cellars , Afternoon Christmas Tea takes place including selections of sumptuous seasonal sandwiches , cakes , desserts , tea and coffee and fizz .
Christmas is always a special time for me as the year comes to a celebratory climax . And for this festive season in 2023 , we ’ re embodying the magic of this rather magnificent year Liverpool has enjoyed , from hosting the awe-inspiring
Eurovision to other world-class events like The Grand National , River of Light and Liverpool Pride . The festive season is part of wider celebrations which are taking place in the build up to September 2024 . There we will reach a decade of The Art School and this will be a momentous celebration for myself and my team with many special events to be announced in due course as we embark on our tenth anniversary year .
And speaking of which , at the of September we hosted a very special evening where the garlanded sculptor Emma Rodgers unveiled her sublime creation , Le Cochon Volant , whilst exhibiting some of her other stellar works in the Lantern Room for us . I commissioned Emma to create her stunning spectacle – it means The Flying Pig - which will now proudly stand in our restaurant . It was revealed during our spectacular celebrations we held with many special guests and loved ones and we partied long into the night . It was gratifying to see so many friends , old and new , coming together who have formed part of The Art School ’ s story and continue to help tell it as we enter this new chapter .
Finally , we ’ re able to reveal that four of my dearest culinary counterparts will be joining me in the kitchen during January and February 2024 for a series of guest chef dinners . These are always fantastic ways to start any year at The Art School , so to have four such esteemed chefs holding court with myself , on a selection of dates , sets the tone for the forthcoming new year . Each of these dates is on a Thursday . First up , on January 11th we open with ‘ A farewell to Le Gavroche ’ with Steven Doherty MCA which is followed by January 18th and a special evening with James Golding of ‘ The Pig ’ & Royal Academy of Culinary Arts . Then on January 25th we welcome Gary Jones , recently of Le Manoir aux Quat ' Saisons and a leading Michelin-starred chef from the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts . The finally on February 1st , my good old friend Simon Rimmer of ‘ Greens ’ and ‘ Sunday Brunch ’ joins us at The Art School . I really can ’ t wait for this quartet of legends to come to Liverpool .
Our next edition will be November and the evenings will be growing shorter by then . It ’ s time to wrap up warm , get ready for Bonfire Night and make sure you ’ ve booked your Christmas plans with us .
I wish you and your loved ones a lovely Autumn as the season changes . Chef Patron Paul Askew x
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