by Max Gosney
Michelin-starred chef Phil Vickery plans to boost pub cuisine with the launch of a cookery school at his new pub. The school will open at the King of Prussia in Farnham Royal, Berkshire, in March.
The chef, who regularly appears on TV shows Ready Steady Cook and This Morning, aims to groom pub chef talent with a series of all day tutorials at his 80-cover eatery.
Vickery will host a series of cooking classes from the pub's dining room that are designed to promote the key to classic pub grub. He said: "I'll cook five to 10 dishes in the morning and give tips and advice on ingredients and preparation. My cooking style is very simple and it will be about rustic dishes full of flavour, which is what I think great pub food is all about."
Up to 10 chefs or customers will be invited to sign up for weekly tutorials covering subjects, such as fish, pork and "making the perfect soufflé".
Vickery, whose accolades include four AA rosettes and Egon Ronay Dessert Chef of the Year, will dispense culinary wisdom for between £35 and £50 per person.
The cooking school will begin with demonstrations on starters and mains followed by an afternoon guide to desserts, according to Vickery. Attendees will also receive lunch, tea and a signed cookery book as part of the scheme.
Vickery is confident that the cooking school will prove a popular attraction at the pub. "Whenever I do live cookery demonstrations, I'm always fascinated by the huge number of people that turn up."
Vickery became co-owner at the King of Prussia in September 2004. Details of the cookery school will soon be available at www.thekingofprussia.com