Starred couple dish up a cheese custard taster

by Bruce McMichael

When two London-based chefs heading up a two star Michelin restaurant are welcomed on stage for a cooking demo it’s time to grab a seat; I was there to look and learn.

 

Chef patrons Mark and Shauna Froydenlund

So it was when husband and wife team Shauna (pictured above) and Mark Froydenlund, joint chef patrons at Marcus Wareing’s flagship restaurant at the Marcus Wareing at The Berkeley in Knightsbridge, London took to the stage at the recent trade show Hotelympia at the Excel Center, London.

Wareing describes the couple as two ‘of London’s most talented chefs’, and that, ‘they are the perfect partners for me’.

Mark Froylunden plates up under the watchful eye of Marcus Wareing

The Froydenlunds have worked for Marcus Wareing Restaurants on and off for over 10 years, meeting him while he was at Gordon Ramsay’s iconic Pétrus restaurant.

It’s not often you get the chance to see how top chefs work together, and in this case how their chemistry works on stage, as they prepared a plate of Salt Baked Shoulder of Lamb, Turf Smoked Potatoes, Pickled Mushrooms and Tunworth Custard. (For the record … the chemistry works!)

The couple prepared several dishes, with Mark focused on the lamb (I say cooked, as it normally requires a three-day marinade, and was finished off on stage) while Shauna created a cheese custard using Tunworth cheese from Hampshire. It was this dish that caught my attention.

“My favourite melting cheese is a ripe Tunworth,” says celebrity chef Nigel Slater, describing what the cheesemakers themselves describe as a ‘very British Camembert … a soft, white-rinded cheese wonderfully reminiscent of its French cousin … (with a) soft, thin and wrinkled rind, a rich and earthy mushroom fragrance, and a long-lasting sweet and nutty flavour’.

Shauna’s Tunworth Custard had a deliciously smooth texture and multiple layers of flavours, with a confidence that belonged on plate with strongly seasoned smoked potatoes and richly seasoned and marinaded lamb. Although this dish is not on the menu at Marcus, Shauna kindly shared the recipe with The Lemon Grove … and here it is.

 

TUNWORTH CUSTARD, recipe by Shauna Froydenlund

 

3x cloves Garlic
300g Whipping cream
75g Milk
6g Salt
200g Sliced shallots
1x Tunworth cheese, diced
220g Egg yolk.

 

Heat cream and milk with the garlic and salt.

Remove from the heat, cling film and leave to infuse for 10 minutes.

Cook the shallots until lightly caramelised and soft.

Add the diced cheese to the onion mix and soften in the pan.

Using the Thermo Blend until smooth.

Add to the infused milk and cream

Warm slightly and whisk together with the egg yolks.

Pour into a square mould with a solid base.

Bake at 120℃ in a bain marie for 45min/ 1hr, the custard should be fully set when cooked.

Allow to cool and set fully in the fridge.

Blend until smooth.

Chill until needed.

 

Cooking action at Marcus at the Berkeley
The Dining Room at Marcus at the Berkeley (All images courtesy Marcus Wareing Restaurants)

 

 

 

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Bruce McMichael

Food writing, discovering food stories, meeting producers, chefs and food enthusiasts are all part of desire to inspire, inform my readers and fellow food lovers. I am a freelance writer, journalist and published author focusing on the international world of food and drink, culture and travel. In 2019 I graduated from the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo, Italy with a Masters in Food Culture, Communication and Marketing. I am now a visiting Professor at the university teaching Food & Drink Writing. Based in London I travel widely, particularly across western Europe. I have chaired many conferences and meetings, spoken at conferences and events and often appear on radio and TV talking most about food, the business of food and being an entrepreneur. In 2017 I won an episode of the ITV (the UK-based national television channel) cooking competition show, 'Gordon Ramsay's Culinary Genius'. I took my children on holiday to Sicily with the prize money. As an experienced farmers' market manager and operator of a small marmalade/ preserves company, I am very familiar with the issues surrounding local food, farming, enterprise and the environment.