Upper Wharfedale pupils were full of cheesy smiles when they enjoyed a tutorial from masterchef John Rudden at Grassington House.
A Year 10 group from the Threshfield secondary school visited the award-winning kitchen at Grassington’s boutique hotel for a private masterclass in making cheese sauce.
The visit formed part of their ‘Activities Week’ program as an introduction to the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme which provides students with an opportunity to complete a personal programme of activities including volunteering, physical, skills, expedition and residential elements.
John Rudden demonstrated how to make a classic cheese sauce using the traditional method and a second made using a high performance cooking ingredient, Ultra-Tex, which got the thumbs up from the thirteen students on the taste test afterwards. Made from starch derived from tapioca it swells with cold water and doesn’t form lumps in the way that traditional starches can when not managed correctly.
Cheese sauce forms a staple part of many favourite dishes including some the cauliflower and broccoli vegetable dishes served on Grassington House Sunday lunch menu. John explained the importance of ‘cooking out’ the sauce before adding the cheese and remembering to add seasoning.
Tricks of the trade are a characteristic of John’s program of public masterclasses offered at the hotel, and his entertaining wit charmed the teenagers who watched the process and asked questions of the expert at this mini-masterclass.
Rachael Hindle, Food Technology teacher at Upper Wharfedale School said “The students thought that it was very interesting. They enjoyed learning how to make a basic sauce and the science behind the new ingredients.”
Manifest Marketing Ltd., 18 Chapel Street, Grassington, Skipton, BD23 5BE. t: 01756 751975 e: jane@manifestmarketing.co.uk w: www.manifestmarketing.co.uk