James was delighted to join old friend and fellow Michelin-starred chef Andrew Pern at the latter’s latest venture, the Star Inn the Harbour at Whitby. The pair collaborated on a stunning menu on the evening of 22 February entitled ‘Two Chefs in the Kitchen’, a homage to the Two Chefs ale they created with the Great Yorkshire Brewery. They took it in turns to cook four courses packed with wonderful Yorkshire ingredients, kicking off with James’ Two Chefs ale-braised oxtail faggot, smoked mash and crispy pickled onion rings. Andrew then took over with a distinctly marine-themed ‘rockpool’ of North Sea shellfish with Lindisfarne oyster ‘ice’, salt ‘n’ vinegar seaweed and Whitby crab velouté.
That was followed by a plate of Yorkshire duck (roast breast, confit leg ‘boulangère’ and crispy duck heart), celeriac purée, pickled blackberries and parkin crumb from James, and the evening was rounded off in style with a dish of Andrew’s from the Great British Menu in 2012: a celebration of Yorkshire rhubarb with a shot of rhubarb schnapps.
If it all sounds too delicious for words and you’re kicking yourself for missing it, take comfort in the fact that James’ dishes can often be found on the Pipe and Glass menu!