THE Bowes Museum’s new head chef is cooking up a storm by turning to local suppliers to add spice to his menu.
Adam Anderson arrived in Cafe Bowes’s kitchen just two weeks ago but is already having an impact on the menu.
From a humble three item main course menu, Cafe Bowes now offers a choice of ten dishes, a daily special and healthy options such as salads.
There is also a selection of homemade cakes, pastries and biscuits.
The main menu, Mr Anderson said, is made up of traditional foods.
He added: “It will be mince and dumplings, fish and chips, things you can do at home, but a bit more refined.”
The new head chef brings with him a lot of experience having been drawn to catering because both his mum and step-dad were chefs.
He started out washing dishes at Sunderland Football Club before joining the catering team at Newcastle Football Club.
He said: “We did some big numbers there.”
Later, he moved to Wynyard Hall where he worked for nine years, moving through the ranks from commis (trainee), through chef de partie and sous chef to head chef.
Stints at Acklam Hall and Hallgarth Manor followed.
Now he wants to attract more people to Cafe Bowes, not simply those who are visiting the museum.
A little known fact is that people do not have to pay entrance to the museum to enjoy a relaxing cuppa and a bite to eat at the cafe.
He said: “I’m interested I doing tapas style meals in the summer.”
Also on the cards is Sunday lunch with a special Mother’s Day menu planned for Sunday, March 11.
People can choose a one course, two course or three course meal that includes smoked salmon and dill tian with baby capers for starters, poached ham hock terrine with peas pudding and brioche for main and a selection of cakes for dessert.
Mr Anderson said: “For Easter we will have a chocolate afternoon tea with things like Nutella sandwiches. We will be taking adults back to their childhood.”
Also in the pipeline are cooking demonstrations and classes at the museum.
About his new post, the head chef said: “It is a good challenge.
“It will be a long journey buy I have a good team behind me and good support,” he added.
