LIVE COOKING
AND LIVE INSPIRATION
Markham Webber Design, a company that never stands still, recently held a live cookery demonstration at their Handforth showroom. Gail Bailey met the team to find out more. Photography: Rebecca Bridges
The kitchen is the main hub of the home and the team at Markham Webber ensure they help clients create a living space that will enhance any house and reflect personality and lifestyle. The company held a live cookery demonstration recently at their Cheshire showroom with the innovative range of cookery appliances from AEG, a manufacturer renowned for being one step ahead in the industry. AEG chef Andrew Dickins performed the live demonstrations enabling customers to get a deeper understanding of how to get the very best out of their AEG appliances.
“Andrew has worked with both Michelin-starred and celebrity chefs such as Jamie Oliver, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Michelle Roux Jr and James Martin,” explains David Brunt, who is director of Markham Webber along with his wife Jane.
“It was amazing to see how he captivated the audience with his creations and really kept them engaged and enthused throughout.”
Those watching were indeed enthralled, with one lady cancelling an appointment as she didn’t want to miss anything, and a gentleman who was preparing for a round the world trip, staying longer than he had expected at the Markham Webber demonstration.
Some of the dishes Andrew prepared, and even better, allowed the audience to sample, included a joint of beef cooked using the accuracy of the AEG Food Sensor along with traditional Yorkshire puddings, but not made in the traditional way. To create the puddings the chef demonstrated the latest steam technology, ‘Steambake’ from AEG, where traditional oven heat is enhanced by steam, meaning that food is not only crisp and golden in colour on the outside, but also succulent and consistently tasty on the inside: “Many high end restaurants now use steam ovens,” Jane explains. “It’s one of the healthiest ways to cook as less nutrients are lost and it can reduce cooking times, so it’s more economical too.” Jeremy Bernstein, also of Markham Webber Design, added: “The demonstrations were truly inspiring – one customer was so impressed with the effects of the steam oven that he has already arranged to take his current kitchen appliance out and replace it with one in which he can house this latest form of technology.”
Andrew also showed the audience the AEG Maxisense Plancha grill accessory for the induction hob – this style of cooking means you can have the enjoyment of an outdoor grill taste all year round. A further accessory to the induction hob is the Fusion Wok which Andrew demonstrated – he simmered and stir-fried the fresh flavours of oriental food, showing the speed, energy-efficiency and temperature control of AEG’s modern induction technology.
Further mouth-watering recipes Andrew delighted his audience with included bacon, onion and cheese mini quiches, seasonal vegetable tartlets and cheese and olive tear-n-share scones. He didn’t disappoint those with a sweet tooth either making a selection of mouth-watering chocolate orange Madeleines, further demonstrating how chocolate can be melted in a pan directly on the induction hob due to the precise temperature control.
“Andrew’s live cookery demonstration really did mean that the audience left inspired to cook differently,” Jane said. “He was kept busy with a continual flow of questions, which he expertly answered, about both the recipes and the benefits of the state-of-the-art AEG equipment.”
Wine was also served at the event to complement the range of food being sampled.
A recent new member to Markham Webber’s team is Emma Eastwood, who after having her own kitchen expertly designed and installed by the company, has now taken up a position as an assistant in the Clitheroe showroom.
With over 16 years of experience, Markham Webber’s level of expertise and attention to detail is the thread that runs through every aspect of their business. Having launched in Clitheroe six months ago, they offer kitchen products that are engineered to the highest level of quality along with maintaining the philosophy of designing quality kitchens, which suit all budgets and all tastes.
“We welcome past, present and future clients into all our showrooms,” says David. “Following the success of our live cookery demonstrations, we aim to offer more events in each of our outlets, each year.”
Markham Webber Design (Cheshire)
71-73 Wilmslow Road
Handforth, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 3EN
01625 526390
Markham Webber Design (Ribble Valley)
28-30 Parson Lane, Clitheroe BB7 2JP
01200 444414
info@markhamwebber.com
www.markhamwebber.com
