Norden’s celebrity chef hosts cooking demo at Greenbooth Village

The former Rochdale Man of the Year, whose restaurant is just a couple of minutes from the development, was guest of honour at the event which also included off-plan buyers, the three Norden councillors – James Gartside, Michael Holly and Peter Winkler – and members of the Russell Homes team.

He was joined in the new showhome kitchen by Norma Pope from Edenfield, who will be moving to Greenbooth Village in August, and Norden local Jan Law who won her place at the table following a visit to the site earlier in the month. The pair helped Andrew to prepare a trio of dishes and got the chance to enjoy their creations alongside Norma’s husband Philip and Jan’s sister-in-law Karen, while an envious audience looked on. Luckily for them, Nutters was also catering the event and Andrew whipped up a vast selection of tasty canapes much to the delight of the invited guests.

Andrew Nutter said: “What a good time we had. The ladies were great sports and their dishes were fantastic, they did so well. We started off with an omelette challenge to warm up the crowd, and I threw in a few tricky techniques to keep them on their toes. I let them off doing the dessert as they’d worked so hard so I made that for them. I’m pleased to say there wasn’t anything left on the plates by the end, so I guess everyone enjoyed the food.

“The event was really good fun and I was pleased to be able to meet the Russell Homes team behind the project. There are amazing things happening all over the great borough of Rochdale. It’s fantastic to see a company making such an investment in this town, and really helping to put Norden on the map.”

Competition winner Jan, a keen baker in her free time, was delighted to be part of the cook-off. “I never win anything so this was amazing, what a fantastic prize. I do love to cook and enjoyed learning some new things with Andrew, I’ve eaten at his restaurant many times and never thought I’d be cooking alongside him. I don’t normally do fish and I never fillet it myself, so it was great to give that a go. He was a real entertainer and made the whole thing so much fun. The event was brilliant and it was lovely to meet the Russell Homes team and have a look around the beautiful new showhome. “

Norma, who is the first to buy a property at Greenbooth Village, added: “We found our new home because we were passing on our way to Nutters restaurant with one of our daughters and had some time to kill. I just can’t believe I got to actually cook with him at this event, it’s such a coincidence.

“I loved the development but didn’t think my husband would actually agree as he was looking for a really rural location up in the Ribble Valley. But, the fact that we’re surrounded by fields, overlooking a reservoir, and can walk straight out onto the Pennine trails from the front door, convinced him. And of course we’re just across the fields from Nutters so we’re already looking forward to popping back to say hi, now we’re all acquainted.”