Ask the Chef - Paul Heathcote
One of the north's most high-profile chefs, Paul Heathcote opened his flagship Longridge Restaurant in 1990 and built it up to two-Michelin-star status. The Heathcotes group now extends to eleven restaurants across Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Lancashire and Cheshire and includes his Olive Press chain of Italian restaurants and a flourishing outside catering business. Paul has teamed up with Sugarvine to answer your cookery questions:
Latest Question
Whenever I steam white fish (coley etc) after a few minutes the water starts to boil over and spill out of the pan. I steam pretty much all my food, meat and vegetables, and this does not happen with any other kind of food, including non-white fish such as salmon. Can you tell me the reason, please, and more importantly how I can prevent this from happening? I have tried cleaning the steamer and pan and changing the water (several times) during the steaming process but as soon as soon as I put the fish back to steam and the water begins to boil, the pan starts to froth over again. Hope you can help. - Robert
Answer
Robert, there is no reason why the water should boil over only when you steam white fish, however when you steam fish you will always get the white frothy foam on top of the water. When you steam anything you should always make sure that the water isn't too full. Ensure thebase pan is only about half full and a little less when steaming white fish. The more you steam the fish (ie overcooking it) the more 'froth' you will get. Hope this helps
More Questions
What is the best way to cook boneless joints of lamb or shoulders of lamb so the meat just falls away from the joint? - View Answer
Can you give me some advice about how to make crab cakes successfully? I've had several attempts all of which have been disastrous. They fall apart no matter how I cook them - I've tried shallow fry, deep fry and oven bake and am left with a mess of crumbs!!! - View Answer
When does ham become pork? - View Answer
Nobody's fault but mine, but I've suddenly got about 5kg of tomatoes from my plants and only two of us to eat 'em! Too good to turn into sauce and freeze (mostly) so: Ideas, Please!!!! - View Answer
Do your restaurants serve foods for people with Coeliac disease? People with this disease find it hard when travelling to find spots to eat? - View Answer
How do I make a sauce for duck -- I was thinking with fresh blackberries? - View Answer
I've recently just dined at the Olive Press in Manchester and had the nicest chips I've ever tasted. Do you know how they make the chips so crispy and nice? And what is the black stuff they sprinkle on top of them? - View Answer
Just want to know how to make a stilton cheese sauce to go with fillet steak. - View Answer
Do the same cooking instructions apply for Swiss Chard as for Spinach? - View Answer
Just wondered why most restaurants don't mark on their menu which desserts are suitable for vegetarians and vegans? I find this very frustrating as I don't want to eat any animal products and the waiting staff usually have little idea of what is ok for me to have - View Answer
How can I make a Jus without it taking forever to reduce/finish? - View Answer
I recently purchased some garlic in a small wicker basket and when I started to use it found it was one complete bulb (no segments at all). Is it still the same as the large bulbs that divide into segments? - View Answer
I want to make Beef Wellington for my dinner party to celebrate my 30th wedding Anniversary but I want to make individual ones. I know to sear the fillet steak and to make pate and chopped mushroom and onion and wrap it in pastry but I am not sure how long to bake it or at what temperature. The fillets I have bought are 5 ounces each. - View Answer
How long can I keep Seafood Newburg in a chafing dish? - View Answer
Me and my partner both work shifts and buy microwave pasta meals from the shop because when we do them ourselves the pasta goes funny when we reheat it in the microwave. Could you help and let me know how we can make our own pasta meals to take to work without the pasta going horrible? - View Answer
How do you make a chicken tikka pate? I tried it once as a starter and it was really good. - View Answer
I always struggle with large joints of beef -- sirloin or rib (on the bone) -- in my AGA. I can never get it medium or medium rare. Would I be better using my electric oven? Also, with a long joint such as sirloin is it safe to use time per pound as a 5lb joint is thinner in the middle? - View Answer
How do I make the perfect red wine sauce? When I have made before it sometimes tastes bitter. - View Answer
What's the best way of cooking spinach? I've boiled it and I've steamed it yet it always end up a big wet mess. - View Answer
Hi! I have just had the most delicious after eight ice cream on holiday in a fabulous restaurant called Playa Bella in Estepona, on the Costa del Sol, in the Michelin guide apparently. How do I make it? It was green coloured, and although it did have little pieces of chocolate in it, it was definitely not just vanilla ice cream with melted after eights stirred in. It did not taste of mint ice cream, it was definitely after eight-flavoured. Do hope you can sort me out - it was delicious! - View Answer
Where in London can I find the best Prime Rib and the best Fish and Chips? - View Answer
I have been given a whole rabbit, skinned and gutted but not boned. Do you have any suggestions of what I can do with it? I cooked one once before as a stew but wasn't that impressed with the flavour but I feel that it must have some potential. Can you give any suggestions? - View Answer
I work in a restaurant as a cook. I have to prepare the salads for our small but adequate salad bar daily. I would like to know how long it is safe to use salads over again for the next few days. I am talking about pasta salads in particular. These are mixed with salad dressing not mayonnaise. They are usually mixed with onion, and some meat plus other vegetables. I have been taught to only use them for 1-2 days and then dispose of them. The other cook says that we should be able to use them for much longer because the dressing is not milk based. Is this true? I would like to know what is truly the food safe rules. - View Answer
I'm a big fan of your restaurants and try to visit them frequently. However I would love to know in which you reside the most and when would be the best chance of having yourself prepare our meal? - View Answer
I want to buy a gift for a friend who is a chef and is opening his own restaurant. What is the best knife I can buy him? - View Answer
For one night of my sister's hen party we are going for a meal in Newcastle city centre -- where would you recommend? We have been to your restaurant in Liverpool and had an amazing time, food fantastic. Looking for something similar. - View Answer
I cooked a leg of lamb last night and thought it was cooked but not so. Can I recook? - View Answer
Hi Paul, I have some friends coming over to visit from America in a few weeks and would like to cook for them. We always get into heated arguments about British food as they've only ever had bad experiences with it and I'd like to change their opinion by serving them some fine British food. There will be 8 of us having dinner and I was wondering if you had any suggestions of meals I could cook to blow their socks off? - View Answer
I've heard you can cook beef wrapped in clingfilm at a very low temperature, 60 degrees centigrade, yet all the clingfilm I've seen says on the box not to be used in conventional ovens. Is it safe? - View Answer
Would you say that more people in your restaurants prefer their meat cooked more as opposed to rare which always seems to be the case on TV shows. What would you say? - View Answer
Sounds simple, but how do you cook the perfect medium rare fillet steak? - View Answer
Hi, do you put raw chicken in a batter or must it be cooked first for chicken balls, and what's the best batter for chicken, thanks. - View Answer
I work in a small restaurant and have the pleasure of preparing all the food freshly on the nights of service. I was wondering why all these restaurants which have a poor standard of food quality seem to be very busy during this time of recession and depression? - View Answer
I recently brought back a few jars of foie gras from Toulouse. I was wondering how to make Sauternes Jelly? - View Answer
I have a major intolerance to the usual raising agents - bicarb etc. Can you suggest anything I could use in their place so that I can bake decent scones, sponge cakes etc? - View Answer
Hi Paul. I liked your answer about the vegan dinner party - some interesting ideas there. Just wondered about your opinions on the vegetarian/vegan diet. There seems to be a lot of contempt towards vegetarians/vegans in today's society. To me it seems a weird reaction, especially as most vegetarians/vegans I know are not doing it for selfish reasons, they just don't want to see animals hurt or killed for their eating pleasure when there are other tasty alternatives. Is that so wrong? - View Answer
Ow do owd lad. I recently heard of serving steamed Lancashire Black Pudding wi Alicker (Malt Vinegar). Ave you come across this? Ah towt it would be mustard. Thanks for all your appearances and thy books. Is't Farnworth thy comes from? - View Answer
Can you please give me a starter recipe for wood pigeon with cabbage and lardons and a jus? - View Answer
Why do you think so many restaurants leave desserts as an afterthought? Some don't even make them themselves. - View Answer
Have you any tips on making decent gravy please, Paul? - View Answer
Hi Paul, hope you can help me. I am catering for a dinner party and some of the guests are friends of the four-legged. I wondered if you had any ideas for vegan-friendly dishes suitable for a large party? - View Answer
I tried the lamb hotpot terrine at your restaurant and would love to try it again. Would it be possible to have the recipe please? - View Answer
Hi Paul, is there a way to cook roast pork so you get lovely crackling, without overcooking the meat? - View Answer
Hi Paul, I'm holding a dinner party later this month. Can you recommend a dessert that will impress my guests? - View Answer
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Heathcotes Restaurants
Longridge Restaurant, Longridge | Grado, Manchester | Simply Heathcotes, Liverpool | London Road, Alderley Edge | The Olive Press, Preston | The Olive Press, Clitheroe | The Olive Press, Bolton | The Olive Press, Manchester | The Olive Press, Cheadle Hulme | The Olive Press, Leeds | The Olive Press, Liverpool |
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