SUMMER HIGHLIGHTS
W L
SUMMER HIGHLIGHTS
BY PAUL ASKEW , CHEF PATRON OF THE ART SCHOOL RESTAURANT
Greetings dear readers , I hope this finds you well as we reach summer ’ s peak and with it finally some sunnier days to bask in . It ’ s been fantastic season so far and all of a sudden we find ourselves very close to The Art School ’ s 10th anniversary in September .
But first up , we are just back from a fantastic visit to Bordeaux – one of my favourite places in the world .
I ’ m very proud that our great city was the guest city at the Bordeaux Wine Festival - The Bordeaux Fête le Vin - at the end of June and as we returned to this fine French destination of outstanding food and drink . Working with our friends there , there ’ s a huge opportunity following from this for Taste Liverpool . Drink Bordeaux to return in 2025 of which I am proudly its patron . I always relish the chance to celebrate our city region ’ s goodness in France with our brilliant Bordeaux friends .
The Bordeaux Fête le Vin is one of the stand-out gastronomic celebrations of the year . And as with the recent Timeout accolade as one of the world ’ s best food and drink destinations for our city , these are two truly wonderful foodie paradises with world class wine to match . I remain deeply honoured to have curated the Launch Lunch at The Town Hall for one hundred guests including the British Ambassador , Visit Britain , the Metro Mayors of Bordeaux and LCR and many more esteemed guests . As always Bordeaux delivered and I very much look forward to what comes next .
We ’ ve proudly been sharing a joyous time in early July as students across the city have celebrated their graduations from our three prestigious universities . All of the hard work and dedication has paid off for many who will go onto great things and have studied here , the next generation of wonderful talent . Helping their families and loved ones celebrate at The Art School is always truly special .
And now to September . To reach a decade of The Art School is a momentous moment and in some ways it ’ s been an ongoing celebration since we unveiled Emma Rodger ’ s Le Cochan Volant last year , pride of place in The Moriarty Room . It ’ s been a life-changing journey to get here for everyone who is part of our story – we took that wild leap of faith back in 2014 when we first set eyes upon our fledgling home and the adventure has not stopped for any of us . A journey we hoped would follow this sort of path , yet to be able to even get close to 10 years is truly incredible for us and testament to everyone ’ s hard work who are part of this story . So September 2024 will be testament to my team ’ s endeavour across all these years to bring us to this special place and of course to every single wonderful customer we have who comes to experience what we proudly offer and has supported us over the years . I wonder what ’ s next at The Art School and where can Liverpool take us all in 2025 and beyond ?
As a team we ’ ve continued to refine what we do at The Art School and I ’ m incredibly proud of all we have achieved so far . And of course , there ’ s always more to come as we enter this most momentous period for everyone involved here .
My ultimate goal has always been to help raise Liverpool ’ s standing as a destination for gastronomic excellence and maintain capital dining standards in our wonderful city . This has always been about the city ’ s grow , with The Art School and its reputation helping the region along with many other great independent operators we have here . So much has happened – a lot of good , some challenges for sure – with myself and our restaurant part of the city ’ s evolution , and a turning point really from the moment we won Capital of Culture in 2008 . And over the 16 years since , with an incredible 2023 including Eurovision and right up to Taylor Swift , essentially bookending perhaps the most dynamic period ever for the city in a multitude of ways – certainly with hospitality right up there .
So if you didn ’ t already know , I have immense passion and pride for Liverpool . More than anything I want the city to thrive and go ever higher . We should collectively aim high and for the accolades like Timeout and awards to keep coming . And I always feel deservedly so – why shouldn ’ t we , as this wonderfully diverse melting pot of cultures and cuisines , of people from myriad places , all of whom have travelled from afar to settle here , enriching the vibrant ideas , themes and narratives which have been told over many decades ? This is who and what we are . My story and The Art School ’ s are part of this .
With much love as always , Paul Askew x
36 wirrallife . com