An Evening Of Extraordinary Fare

Written By: Marlene Osteen | Issue: October 2024

Graham Fox

British cuisine has often been overlooked in the U.S., but three renowned British chefs are ready to change that.

On Friday, October 11, celebrated chefs Phil Vickery, Colin Bedford, and Graham Fox will come together at The Farm Old Edwards to showcase their take on traditional British fare.

Their goal?

To transform how we view British food by presenting a menu inspired by the dishes once served at the iconic Castle Hotel in Taunton, Somerset. What makes this dinner even more special is that the three chefs once worked side by side in that very same kitchen over 25 years ago. This reunion marks the first time in a quarter of a century that they’ll once again share a stove.

Enchantingly, “Three Celebrity Chefs of Great Britian” is the setting for still another nostalgic connection. It is an occasion for Bedford and Fox to reunite with Old Edwards Hospitality Group President and Managing Director, Richard Delany, who was once the General Manager of NC’s Fearrington House where both men spent significant portions of their culinary careers.

Colin Bedford

Phil Vickery is perhaps best known for his long-running role on the popular UK television show This Morning and as the author of 12 cookbooks. In the mid-to-late 1990s, however, Vickery was Head Chef at the Michelin-Starred Castle Hotel, where he honed his skills in fine British dining. Vickery’s culinary career also includes more than 200 appearances on BBC’s Ready Steady Cook, where he earned the nickname “Phil Victory” for his frequent wins in cooking challenges. Vickery continues to be a household name in the UK, serving as a spokesperson for numerous food brands.

Colin Bedford, currently Executive Chef at Los Angeles’ Beverly Wilshire Hotel—known to many as “The Pretty Woman Hotel”—heads a culinary team of over 100 people across the hotel’s three restaurants and its extensive banquet operations. A native of the UK, Bedford began his culinary journey close to home, at the Castle Hotel. From there, he went to Ontario, Canada, working his way up from Pastry Chef to Executive Sous Chef at the Prince of Wales Hotel. Bedford later made his mark in the U.S. as the Executive Chef at The Fearrington House Inn in North Carolina, where he spent 16 years, including 10 years as Executive Chef, and where he was twice named a James Beard Award semifinalist for Best Chef Southeast.

Phil Vickery

Graham Fox, alongside his wife Phoebe, now owns Sutor Creek, a renowned restaurant in Cromarty, Scotland, known for its dedication to fresh Scottish seafood. Fox’s culinary journey began at Ynyshir Hall in mid-Wales, and he later joined the Castle Hotel, where he worked under Vickery and alongside Bedford. Like Bedford, Fox also later moved to North Carolina’s Fearrington House. Fox’s current restaurant, Sutor Creek, is celebrated for its focus on locally sourced seafood, earning it acclaim throughout Scotland.

The dinner menu will feature iconic British dishes, many of which were staples during their time at the Castle. Indeed, the menu, a true collaboration between the three men, reflects the classic recipes served at the hotel during Vickery’s leadership—each plate a nod to their formative years at one of the UK’s most prestigious hotels.

Menu

Starter: Earl Gray Tea Smoked Duck with Pickled Red Cabbage and Walnut Oil

Fish Course: NC Red Drum with Pea Fritters and Chip Shop Curry Sauce and Gin & Tonic Butter Scraps

Main Course: Shoulder of Lamb Braised with Thyme Garlic and Potato Bacon Cake

Cheese Course: Welsh Rarebit

Dessert Course: Baked Egg Custard Tart with Nutmeg Ice Cream and Blackcurrant

Petit Fours: Whiskey Truffle, Cranachan, Shortbread

When the evening concludes, it will be to the sounds of the bagpipes as Graham Fox’s 18-year-old son, Alistair, moves between the tables squeezing out the traditional tunes of Scotland.  A member of the Piping Cadets, Alistair recently played at Edinburgh Castle. His performance heralds a dramatic flair to an already extraordinary evening.

For tickets and more information, visit oldedwardshospitality.com/chefdinners.