4 minute read
MODERN BRITISH FOOD
Respected young chef Oli Martin has appeared on TV’s MasterChef and his latest venture is Ribble Valley-based Fell Urban Bistro – featuring beautifully presented modern British food
he winner of BBC’s Masterchef festive knockout, Oli Martin is one the UK’s most respected young chefs and following his move to introduce fine-dining into Preston city centre, he has opened Fell Urban Bistro in Longridge.
Lytham born, Oli has worked alongside many well-respected chefs since leaving school – he has worked in France and Australia and has refined his own style over the years to become a confident chef that draws on his own classical training to create menus that use local ingredients.
Oli, who works alongside business partners Matthew Willdigg and Alex Blamire, says the menu at Fell Urban Bistro, is modern British: “In some ways the food is old school with a modern twist.”
Diners can expect to find salt cod fishcake with tartare velouté and pickled cucumber, pastrami cured trout, creme fraiche, fennel and preserved lemon along with wood fired beets, hazelnut cream, green chilli and cheese curds among Fell’s starters. Main courses include Goosnargh chicken, treacle pork cutlet with hispi cabbage and prune ketchup, roast cod and white bean cassoulet with brown shrimp and caper butter and a vegetarian potato dumpling with truffle and celeriac sauce.
“We also have some beautiful steaks on the menu too,” says Oli, who was head chef at Hipping Hall’s four AA Rosette restaurant for eight years.
“I left Hipping Hall as I wanted to develop as a chef,” says Oli, who set up Foray Catering last year to work independently. “It’s been phenomenal! We’ve been catering for lots of weddings and corporate events – including Blackpool FC’s home games,” says Oli, who is executive chef at the successful 263 restaurant in Preston’s Winckley Square, where he has developed a fine-dining menu that has won much acclaim.
“In the evening we just have one eightcourse tasting menu,” he says.
“It’s great to bring fine-dining to the centre of Preston and it has been very well received. The food at 263 is British-led using local suppliers and heritage ingredients.”
While 263 is more formal, Fell Urban Bistro as Oli says, has a more relaxed vibe: “The food reflects this. It’s already got a great following and people in Longridge are saying it’s just what the town needs.”
Known for his creativity and stunning presentation Oli’s food has progressed over the years.
His appearance on MasterChef the Professionals was a steep learning curve as he explains: “MasterChef is all about getting the recognition. It raises your profile as a chef, which is good. Filming was full on and while I didn’t win I got through to the final four – and I went on to win the MasterChef Christmas special, which was great as it was important to me to prove to myself that I could do it.”
On the Christmas special Oli cooked venison with sprouts stuffed with chestnut and black garlic. The judges were impressed – and a delighted Oli took home the MasterChef trophy.
“It’s brilliant – you develop as a chef when you take part in something like MasterChef. It encourages you to push the boundaries, it’s a challenge that is also an enormous privilege.” •
fellbistro.co.uk
263preston.co.uk
