A former North East Chef of the Year winner, Mark Percival, has been appointed head chef at 14th century luxury hotel and restaurant, Langley Castle. Mark, aged 30, has returned to head up a kitchen in which he was a sur sous chef at the time of his title-winning success in 2011. He has also entwined his life even further with Langley Castle, by getting married within its impressive seven-foot thick walls on Good Friday (March 25 2016).
Mark and his wife, Emma, had planned the wedding before Mark's appointment as head chef. Having worked at the time capsule castle previously, and seen the fairytale weddings staged there, Mark felt there was nowhere more desirable at which to take his vows.
Diners can now sample the cuisine of a chef who has previously worked at eateries in Australia and at the Fisherman's Lodge, Eslington Villa Hotel, Close Hotel and Golf and the Vermont Hotel, Newcastle. He has most recently been head chef at the popular Bouchon Bistrot in Hexham.
Mark has a true passion for food and his innovative dishes helped him sweep to victory in the North East Chef of the Year contest in 2011, when one of the judges was Michelin star chef, Nigel Haworth. His favourite ingredients are seafood and shellfish, whilst he prefers a great cheese, particularly Northumberland Cheese, to a dessert. His culinary hero is Gordon Ramsay and his favourite restaurant is The Kitchin in Edinburgh, owned by chef Tom Kitchin.
Mark has already concocted new table d'hote, Sunday lunch and relaxed dining menus for Langley Castle. Unsurprisingly, his starters include sea scallops with celeriac, lovage and balsamic, whilst his favourite fish, turbot, features as a main dish, served with mushroom puree, hazelnut and truffle pesto, braised lettuce and pearl potato.
Mark has other flavour combinations to thrill, such as risotto with spelt, artichoke, vanilla and apple and loin of lamb with goats curd, olive, confit tomato and pomme dauphine.
