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About the Chef John Rudden, owner and head chef of the charming, recently renovated Grassington House Hotel, has had a more-than-inspiring career so far, and continues to impress as one of the region’s leading culinarians. Over the years he has built an outstanding reputation, winning awards as a chef and restaurateur, making regular television appearances and winning hands-down in a series of competitions. He is keen to pass on his skills to the next generation, working with local schools, and has in the past taught budding chefs at the Barn Owl at Oldham College. ‘...he creates mouth-watering menus
that leave the diner spoilt for choice...’ John’s accolades include ‘Pub and Restaurant Chef of the Year’, awarded by the Craft Guild of Chefs in 2005. His magic touch also helped to earn a Michelin Bib Gourmand for The White Hart at Lydgate, which he co-owned with Charles Brierley, and helped to transform it into an enormous success, complete with a brasserie, restaurant, function room and private dining room.
John is passionate about local produce and, with such a rich larder just on his doorstep, who can blame him? To create mouth-watering menus that leave diners spoilt for choice, he uses Oxford Sandy and Black rare-breed pork – hand reared, fed and delivered by the Rudden family themselves – along with meat from Yorkshire farms, locally caught game, cheese from nearby dairies, and fresh, seasonal fruit and vegetables. Particularly delicious is his award-winning beef skirt rag pudding; a local dish to Oldham, it is served with roasted winter vegetables and bubble and squeak. Also worth a mention is his rice pudding, made with clotted cream and accompanied by a winter berry compote.
Although he has achieved more than most in his lifetime already, John refuses to rest on his laurels. Making every effort to improve and perfect his skills as a chef, he is always creating new dishes and putting a new spin on those he grew up with as a child. And there’s no doubt that with such an outstanding chef at the helm, Grassington House will continue to deserve its reputation as one of the most popular places to dine in the Yorkshire Dales.
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