Programme & Chef Information
Furlong Restaurant
Friday 6th September
Host - Will Torrent
Will Torrent is a Senior Development & Innovation Chef at Waitrose, having begun his career with Heston Blumenthal at the world-renowned 'The Fat Duck' before working with some of the finest chefs around the UK and winning a host of industry awards as a young chef.
He has made many TV appearances, including Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch and BBC's The Apprentice. He is the author of three popular baking books, including the best-selling "Afternoon Tea at Home". His no-nonsense approach to the techniques in patisserie and chocolate making has earned high praise in reviews for all his books.
Will is a member of the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts and the Craft Guild of Chefs as well as a judge for the Great Taste Awards, RACA Annual Awards of Excellence, World Marmalade Awards and International Salon Culinaire and host of Craft Guild of Chefs National Chef of the Year.
13:00 James Tanner
James began his career in food at the age of sixteen working in a local restaurant whilst still at school. On leaving school he studied hospitality in his home county of Kent.
Kicking off his culinary journey James got the opportunity to work for the Roux Brothers at their two prestigious kitchens in the USA, The Lake Placid Lodge and The Point both in upstate New York. On his return from America James obtained a position with Martin Blunos at his 2 star Michelin restaurant ‘Lettonie’ in Bath.
James has written two cookery books, the first, ‘’James Tanner Takes 5”: Delicious Dishes Using just 5 Ingredients and his second book, ‘’Old Favourites, new Twists” – 100 classic recipes with a difference. The other books, ‘For Chocolate Lovers’ and ‘Ice Cream’ were co-written with his brother Chris.
James has worked with companies having a bestselling kitchen and dining range. A branded dessert and launched various products and worked on national marketing campaigns.
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To read more about James, please click on his photo.
Chapel Down is England’s leading wine producer with an award-winning range of sparkling and still wines. Based in Kent, in the heart of the Garden of England, they produce wines of the highest quality and which they believe offer the best expression of England. Their winery estate is open to the public for guided tours and experiences.
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As England’s leading wine producer, their mission is to change the way the world thinks about English wine. Their talented winemaking team produce award-winning premium sparkling and still wines, grown in the chalky terroir of the North Downs of Kent.
14:35 Farmer Tom
Sodexo Live! partnered with Full Circle Farms – a regenerative farm in West Sussex – in November 2021 to continue in our commitment to sourcing fresh, locally grown ingredients and reducing food waste across the UK.​
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Full Circle Farms offer urban restaurants an opportunity to own and grow on their own plot of farmed land. Each plot is allocated a full farming team who work with the chefs to assess the restaurants’ requirements and grow and deliver the best produce for them.​​
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From January 2023 appropriate food waste from these sites has been sent back to the Full Circle Farm to begin the regenerative process. To do this the farm will compost our food waste in its mobile composting systems, and once the compost has been at a temperature of 75 to 80 degrees for a minimum of two weeks, the machines are then emptied, and the compost delivered to the farm to feed the soil.
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For more information about Full Circle Farms, please click on Farmer Toms photo.
15:10 Adam Smith
Hailing from a Birmingham estate, and a pot washer at his local pub at the age of 13, Adam Smith is now considered one of the UK’s most talented executive chefs with an ethos of ‘taste is king’ and a reputation for accomplished, classically-based cooking with modern presentation.
Adam represented the central region on Great British menu earlier this year, impressing the esteemed judges Tom Kerridge, Nisha Katona and Ed Gamble, as well as visiting Olympians. For this BBC Two series, 32 of the UK’s top chefs competed with creative menus that celebrate The Olympic and The Paralympic Games.
Adam’s fish course was triumphant in Finals Week and resulted in him winning a place in the Great British Menu banquet at the British Ambassador’s Residence in Paris.
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To read more about Adam, please click his photo.
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14:00 Chapel Down English Sparkling Wine
15:45 Sarah Frankland
Sarah is responsible for the kitchens and a brigade of chefs at one of the UK’s most prominent hotels, Pennyhill Park. Passionate about provenance and an advocate for individuals to develop and progress their careers, she sits on the hotel’s senior leadership team at the 120-acre estate.
Sarah is the recipient of numerous accolades from 2008’s Academy of Culinary Arts Awards of Excellence in Pastry, winner of an Acorn Award and The Caterer in 2012 to being a Finalist in Bake Off: The Professionals in 2019. In 2023 she was invited to join the Royal Academy of culinary Arts Role to support the industry and to be part of the committee commending the annual awards of Excellence For Pastry. With people and mentorships close to her heart, she was also a recent judge for the Pastry graduate awards 2024.
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Now a mum of one, Sarah remains as committed to creating exceptional dishes through the provenance and traceability of the ingredients from the day she started at Westminster College.
For more information about Sarah, please click on her photo.
16:20 Ben Dutson
Ben has worked for Sodexo Live! for many years, as head chef at Ascot, the major events team, regional exec chef and now on the senior leadership team as Food Innovation Director, heading up all food strategy across 48 venues.
Demonstration Programme
Saturday 7th September
Will Torrent - Host
Will Torrent is a Senior Development & Innovation Chef at Waitrose, having begun his career with Heston Blumenthal at the world-renowned 'The Fat Duck' before working with some of the finest chefs around the UK and winning a host of industry awards as a young chef.
He has made many TV appearances, including Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch and BBC's The Apprentice. He is the author of three popular baking books, including the best-selling "Afternoon Tea at Home". His no-nonsense approach to the techniques in patisserie and chocolate making has earned high praise in reviews for all his books.
Will is a member of the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts and the Craft Guild of Chefs as well as a judge for the Great Taste Awards, RACA Annual Awards of Excellence, World Marmalade Awards and International Salon Culinaire and host of Craft Guild of Chefs National Chef of the Year.
12:15 Farmer Tom
Sodexo Live! partnered with Full Circle Farms – a regenerative farm in West Sussex – in November 2021 to continue in our commitment to sourcing fresh, locally grown ingredients and reducing food waste across the UK.​
​
Full Circle Farms offer urban restaurants an opportunity to own and grow on their own plot of farmed land. Each plot is allocated a full farming team who work with the chefs to assess the restaurants’ requirements and grow and deliver the best produce for them.​​
​
From January 2023 appropriate food waste from these sites has been sent back to the Full Circle Farm to begin the regenerative process. To do this the farm will compost our food waste in its mobile composting systems, and once the compost has been at a temperature of 75 to 80 degrees for a minimum of two weeks, the machines are then emptied, and the compost delivered to the farm to feed the soil.
​
For more information about Full Circle Farms, please click on Farmer Toms photo.
12:45 Paul Ainsworth
Since growing up in his parents’ guesthouse in Southampton, Paul Ainsworth has spent a lifetime in hospitality. Watching and helping his parents at work, he developed a strong sense of hard work from the outset. His career that ensued, leading him from Southampton to London to Cornwall, demonstrates both his drive and determination to succeed - a success which would not have been possible without the loving and professional support of his wife and business partner Emma Ainsworth and their two daughters Aricie (born 2016) and Audrey Bloom (born 2024).
A charismatic and engaging chef, Paul's personality and cooking attracts publicity. He appeared on BBC2’s Great British Menu in 2011 and won the South West regional heat, which resulted in him serving his dessert at the final banquet at Leadenhall Market, London.
He has since been on Saturday Kitchen, Sunday Brunch, MasterChef, ITV’s This Morning, The One Show and James Martin’s Saturday Morning.
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In 2017 Paul co-presented the royal-themed cooking programme, Royal Recipes, as well as BBC1’s The Best Christmas Food Ever the following year. In January 2023, Paul joined ITV show Next Level Chef as a judge alongside Gordon Ramsay and Nyesha Arrington.
To read more about Paul, please click on his photo.
13:45 Chapel Down English Sparkling Wine
Chapel Down is England’s leading wine producer with an award-winning range of sparkling and still wines. Based in Kent, in the heart of the Garden of England, they produce wines of the highest quality and which they believe offer the best expression of England. Their winery estate is open to the public for guided tours and experiences.
​As England’s leading wine producer, their mission is to change the way the world thinks about English wine. Their talented winemaking team produce award-winning premium sparkling and still wines, grown in the chalky terroir of the North Downs of Kent.
14:20 Alex Payne
The Tudor Pass is the reimagining of their iconic Tudor Room restaurant with Executive Head Chef Alex Payne at the helm.
Alex joined Great Fosters from The Thames Table at Crockers, where he was the Head Chef.
He was born in Egham and spent his childhood only a mile from Great Fosters so it’s wonderful to be back in the area he grew up.
14:55 Adam Smith
Hailing from a Birmingham estate, and a pot washer at his local pub at the age of 13, Adam Smith is now considered one of the UK’s most talented executive chefs with an ethos of ‘taste is king’ and a reputation for accomplished, classically-based cooking with modern presentation.
Adam represented the central region on Great British menu earlier this year, impressing the esteemed judges Tom Kerridge, Nisha Katona and Ed Gamble, as well as visiting Olympians. For this BBC Two series, 32 of the UK’s top chefs competed with creative menus that celebrate The Olympic and The Paralympic Games.
Adam’s fish course was triumphant in Finals Week and resulted in him winning a place in the Great British Menu banquet at the British Ambassador’s Residence in Paris.
​​
To read more about Adam, please click his photo.
15:30 Sarah Frankland
Sarah is responsible for the kitchens and a brigade of chefs at one of the UK’s most prominent hotels, Pennyhill Park. Passionate about provenance and an advocate for individuals to develop and progress their careers, she sits on the hotel’s senior leadership team at the 120-acre estate.
Sarah is the recipient of numerous accolades from 2008’s Academy of Culinary Arts Awards of Excellence in Pastry, winner of an Acorn Award and The Caterer in 2012 to being a Finalist in Bake Off: The Professionals in 2019. In 2023 she was invited to join the Royal Academy of culinary Arts Role to support the industry and to be part of the committee commending the annual awards of Excellence For Pastry. With people and mentorships close to her heart, she was also a recent judge for the Pastry graduate awards 2024.
​
Now a mum of one, Sarah remains as committed to creating exceptional dishes through the provenance and traceability of the ingredients from the day she started at Westminster College.
For more information about Sarah, please click on her photo.
16:05 Ben Dutson
Ben has worked for Sodexo Live! for many years, as head chef at Ascot, the major events team, regional exec chef and now on the senior leadership team as Food Innovation Director, heading up all food strategy across 48 venues.