Food Cornwall - Chef's Special

Chef Special - Kevin Viner

Cooking for me is so much about combining a passion for food with simple but fresh and wholesome ingredients. It’s definitely about packing a powerful punch of flavour then adding to the mix with a presentation that adds the final impact and ambience when dining.

Download Kevin Viner's recipe for Helford River Oysters

With an avid interest in food, I first discovered the magic of cooking at a young age! (probably, dare I say it, because my mum was not so great in the kitchen!)

I had already begun my professional career in cooking by the age of 15 at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. I suppose this was a good grounding which led me into further training, teaching and eventually entering competitions and opening my own restaurant here in Cornwall.

But I must admit, I still mostly enjoy the pleasure of creating my own dishes and sharing my concoctions! I am not one of these people who enjoys “heat” in the kitchen. To me, it is about calmly presenting diners with simple or a la carte dishes that all combine the freshest, most seasonal local produce. Cornwall is a haven for the most fabulous ingredients and I feel this diversity should reflect in our cuisine.

Some typical dishes on our menu would be a plate of Falmouth Bay native oysters or twice-baked West Country soufflé with cream and spring onions. Our main courses pick up the regional theme with steamed fillet of line-caught sea bass served with lobster velouté and sauce Américaine, while our pot-roast shoulder of Cornish lamb might be accompanied by char-grilled vegetables and red wine jus.

At an early stage I had come across top quality food across Europe and the US, so I always knew what was achievable. Nonetheless, I was somewhat surprised to receive the first Michelin Star ever awarded in Cornwall and this was the catalyst for me in seeking a consistency and standard in my kitchen.

I enjoy a great rapport with other chefs and I am thrilled that we have been part of the renaissance of fine dining and fabulous food in Cornwall. With the “Cornwall Food and Drink Festival” becoming an annual event, this should be a reminder that we have something to be proud of which is the recognition that Cornwall is now the number one food destination outside London!