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Paul Foster - From crowd funding to Michelin star

Paul Foster - From crowd funding to Michelin star
All chefs begin with a dream to create and serve their kind of food, done their way, to paying customers in their own restaurant.
This was the goal of Michelin starred chef Paul Foster, owner and head chef of Salt in Stratford-upon-Avon.
After years of hard work, Foster crowd funded his own restaurant and created the perfect platform to showcase his talent and bring the food that matters to him, to his guests. Concentrating on sourcing the best quality ingredients and employing precision cooking techniques, all within a relaxed atmosphere, it’s clear that Foster’s dream had become a reality.
With a wealth of experience in top restaurants including Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons with Raymond Blanc, as an original member of the launch team at Simpsons in Birmingham, L’Auberge de I’lle in France and also alongside Sat Bains in Nottingham, Foster has not only honed his talent and unique and definitive style but also nurtured his ambition to make the art of fine dining cooking accessible to everyone.

Salt cookery school

Whilst it’s apparent that the love of good, honest food, done well and with a signature Paul Foster twist is a predominant driving force behind the restaurant, it’s the desire to inspire others that has meant Foster wasn’t content to stop there. Armed with the determination to encourage and help others to develop their skill and passion, the idea of the Salt Cookery School was born.
 “It’s not just about creating quality dishes myself but igniting the passion for food in other people and inspiring them on their own culinary journey.”
Inspiring home cooks and budding chefs to embrace the beauty, satisfaction and sense of pride that comes from creating quality foods, the Salt Cookery School allows anyone to share in and learn from the experience of leading chefs. Headed by a dedicated Cookery School leader, students can hone and perfect their knowledge and techniques in a range of areas, each course solely concentrating on specific areas of interest.
Whether wanting to brush up on pasta making or breads and pizzas or focus on preparing and cooking fish or chicken, the sessions allow attendees to master the core techniques and learn how to enhance ingredients to their fullest potential.
Want to see the professionals in action? Special events where Cookery School guests actually get firsthand experience witnessing restaurant chefs bringing the Salt menu to life are available where expert hints and tips are in abundance. Guest chef events are also popular occasions, where top chefs from around the country come to the cookery school to share their wealth of knowledge and expertise.
Can’t make it along to Stratford to attend a course? You can still benefit from Foster’s passion to inspire others with the Salt Masterclass option run by Paul himself. A series of online tutorials packed with knowledge and techniques; these subscription-based videos are located on the Salt Restaurant website. Covering basic to advanced skills for all core elements including pasta, bread, desserts, stocks and sauces, fish and shellfish and meats plus much more, expert cooking is made accessible to everyone regardless of their level of experience or skill set.

The importance of quality commercial refrigeration & catering equipment

Foster is well aware that choosing quality commercial refrigeration and catering equipment is key to achieving results whether in the Salt Restaurant or Salt Cookery School. Consistent performance and efficiency are paramount to correctly storing produce in prime condition and transforming them into exquisite dining experiences.
When Foster needed to further enhance his cold storage options, he came to the FFD Group who supplied his most recent addition of a Tefcold double door catering freezer. As one of the largest commercial refrigeration brands in the UK, Tefcold deliver performance, reliability and efficiency as standard and all with a reasonable price tag. The FFD Group is a trusted distributor comprising of FFD Catering Equipment, FFD Commercial Refrigeration and FFD Grease Management Solutions, an all-in-one online shop for the foodservice and hospitality industry.
 “FFD have the equipment knowledge and experience to make sure I get the piece of commercial equipment not only that I want, but that the business needs, when I need it.”
For more information about Salt Restaurant, Cookery School and Masterclasses go to the Salt Restaurant website.
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