Meet the Chefs Cooking at Living North LIVE in Newcastle
Living North LIVE is back at Newcastle Racecourse from 24th-26th April
Friday 24th April
11am Kyle Bowman, Dobson & Parnell
Kyle Bowman is an award-winning chef with nearly two decades of experience in fine dining and modern British cuisine. He has held senior roles across prestigious kitchens, including running his own acclaimed restaurant, and most recently overseeing fine dining at Newcastle United. A passionate and innovative chef, Kyle has won North East Chef of the Year 2023 and HRC Sodexo Chef of the Year 2022, as well as being a two-time National Chef of the Year semi-finalist. At Dobson & Parnell, Kyle brings his wealth of experience, creativity, and commitment to seasonal, locally-sourced produce to deliver exceptional dining experiences.
12pm Taahir Patel, FIIK
What does FIIK stand for I hear you ask? F**K If I Know! All you really need to know is that they offer a tasting menu with a difference in Durham, where every visit is a new experience in culinary creativity. Their mission is simple: to shake up the ordinary dining scene with a touch of whimsy, a tickle of curiosity and a tongue punch of flavour. So, say goodbye to the usual restaurant experience because here, they blend fine dining with fun.
Saturday 25th April
11am Tomahawk
Join the Tomahawk team as they cook up some Himalayan salt-aged steak and all of your favourite Tomahawk sides. Executive chef Lee will be joined by Allan and Fabrice to give you a step by step workshop on how to cook the perfect steak at home. There'll be top tips, voucher giveaways, and plenty of tasters for everyone. Come hungry, leave inspired.
12pm Le Gruyère
Any foodie knows the importance of having a good stock of cheese in the pantry. If you’re seeking inspiration on how to make the most of this versatile staple, head to the Chef Demo Kitchen where the talented team from Le Gruyère will give you the tips you need to know to wow dinner guests this spring.
1pm Paul Johnson, Lord Crewe Arms
Originally from Consett, Paul has been working as a chef for more than 20 years, learning his trade in some of the top hotels in the North East including Close House, Matfen Hall and Lumley Castle – in addition to working for a spell in Georgia, USA and for two-Michelin starred Nathan Outlaw in Cornwall. Paul joined the Lord Crewe Arms in 2023. Nestled in the honey-stone village of Blanchland, the Lord Crewe Arms is soaked in Northumberland soul. Using amazing local suppliers and produce from their own kitchen garden, they create menus to reflect the changing seasons.
2pm Richard Sim, The Potted Lobster
A Living North favourite, Richard’s Bamburgh restaurant The Potted Lobster has won Michelin recognition and is certainly one of the best on the North East coast. He’s also been busy growing the delightful new hotel and bistro combination in Alnmouth (the charming Whittling House) and his newest venture, Bertram’s in Warkworth, has also received rave reviews as a place to both eat and stay. Richard’s appreciation of the finest local produce (whether it’s game, fish or a raft of other seasonal fare) is key to his highly-regarded restaurants.
Sunday 26th April
12pm Ian Waller, Restaurant Pine
Originally from Saddleworth, Ian Waller began his culinary journey working in some of the finest hotels across the North West and Yorkshire. Ian’s passion for natural, sustainable food found its ideal setting at the Michelin-starred Forest Side, where he worked as sous chef under Kevin Tickle. It was here that Ian met future collaborators Vanessa Stoltz and Cal Byerley. When Kevin departed Forest Side in the summer of 2019, Ian stepped into the role of head chef, continuing to uphold the restaurant’s high standards until the end of the year. He later made the pilgrimage to Northumberland and met up with Cal and Siân Byerley, to set his sights on a quieter, more purposeful path and to contribute to a shared vision: to create a restaurant shaped by a passionate team in an extraordinary setting, serving exceptional plates crafted from the finest locally sourced, seasonal, and natural ingredients. Restaurant Pine now holds both a Michelin star and a Michelin Green star and has become a must-visit destination for foodies.
1pm Chris and Becca Green, Hummingbird Drinks
Hummingbird Drinks, based in Amble, are an award winning ready-to-drink cocktail company. Having started their business three years ago as a pop-up cocktail bar, Chris and Becca have developed a range of ready-to-drink cocktails that are now stocked and sold across the UK. On top of their cocktails, they are the co-creators of Grounded, a new coffee liqueur that’s taking the UK by storm. Their demonstration will showcase their cocktails and allow you to see how versatile Grounded can be.
2pm Olayemi Adelekan, Yummy by Design
Olayemi Adelekan at Yummy By Design is a passionate cook and MasterChef UK 2022 semi-finalist who has been cooking for more than 40 years. She shares her love and passion for food through food blogging, content creation, as a private chef and through private dining services, demonstrations, pop-up events, supper clubs and a weekly food feature (Yemi’s Food Stories) celebrating food events, producers and their produce.
