A slice of medieval life and a feast fit (From Warrington Guardian)

A slice of medieval life and a feast fit

for a king

RYFIELDS Retirement Village chef Donna Cowell and her team are the new flavour of the month after seeing off competition from 16 other teams to win first place in a gourmet competition.

Donna and the four-strong staff who run the kitchens at the Orford retirement complex were awarded a glass plaque after coming first in the ExtraCare Charitable Trust's 'Party in the Park' event held at Althorp Park, Northampton.

Donna competed against 16 other chefs from ExtraCare homes and villages in a Masterchef competition at the event, which was judged by comedian Bobby Davro and ExtraCare's catering coach Nigel Wilson.

After the judging, the Ryfields party guests, dressed in medieval costume, were also given a chance to sample the food.

Donna, whose award was presented by Groundforce presenter Charlie Dimmock, said: "We wanted to do something different and it worked."

Her team includes second chef Claire Oram, Franco Loarosa, Mavis Norman and Joanne Boothroyd.

As well as a suckling pig, the medieval menu also included a selection of seasonal game accompanied with a rich cranberry sauce, venison sausages with a port and honey glaze, homemade pork and chicken pie and roasted ham served with prunes and an armagnac sauce.

There was also a selection of salads, medieval Middle Eastern style cous cous, roasted beets, onions and cherry tomatoes and a terrine of bitter leaves. The deserts included pears poached in red wine and raspberry and franzipan tart and the meal was rounded off with a traditional board of mature Cheddar, Stilton and goats cheese and a goblet of mulled wine.