4-Star Axford Show at Fenn's Quay

Axford’s 4-Point Display At Fenn’s Quay

Amateur chef, and avid Rugby League fan (Leeds Rhinos), Paul Axford played a stormer in the Fenn’s Quay Chef du Jour Competition and his four star display puts him in a strong position against direct semi-final rival Sarah O’Riordan who gets her game-time in the Sheare’s Street venue next Wednesday (8.00pm). The winner will face Jeni Pim in the April final.

Axford got off to a flying start with his Amuse Bouche, a perfectly executed and tasty Beef Carpaccio in a horse radish bilini. Can we have more please was the response.

I was also more than pleased with the starter: Smoked Salmon and prawn crepe, fennel salad with oyster crème. An excellent combination, well balanced, well presented and well cooked. So far, so very good.

The main course was a pretty tough assignment; maybe not for a small group but certainly if you’re cooking for a large bunch of mainly strangers. It was Toulouse and pistachio stuffed chicken with pommes Boulanger and seasonal vegetables.

Some reservations were expressed about the chicken being on the dry side, not enough sauce, but I thought the cabbage provided the necessary moisture and polished it off.

The dessert, individual dishes of Raspberry Baked Alaska, was another winner. Melt in the mouth stuff! Lucie Axford was at my table and, though she had been “force fed “f our of these earlier in the week, had no bother polishing this one off. Neither did I.

Then I retired with fellow judges Margaret Smith and Evin O’Keeffe and we soon agreed on four stars. Head Chef Kate Lawlor made the presentation and now we all await another big night next Wednesday!