Tickets go on sale today for Obsession26, the latest edition of the annual culinary festival that brings together a constellation of top national and international chefs at Northcote, the gastronomic boutique hotel in Lancashire’s Ribble Valley.
The festival dinners take place on 17 consecutive nights from Friday 23 January to Sunday 8 February. Host chef-director Lisa Goodwin Allen (pictured) will present the opening dinner, followed by guest chefs from as far afield as Dubai and Chicago.
The strong UK contingent includes chefs from three establishments placed in the top 10 of the soon-to-be-released Harden’s 100 list of the UK’s best restaurants – Jason Atherton & Spencer Metzger from this year’s highest-rated newcomer, Row on 5; Angelo Sato of Humble Chicken; and John Spenceley from The Ledbury. John Chantarasak of AngloThai, another high-flying newcomer, is also making his Obsession debut.
Among the international chefs are Sujan Sarkar of Indienne in Chicago, Gregoire Berger of Kraken in Dubai, Bas Van Kranen of Flore in the Netherlands, and Staffordshire-born Paul Proffitt, who opened restaurant Pearl in southern Denmark earlier this year following a nine-year stint as head chef at Jutland’s legendary Henne Kirkeby Kro, run by another expatriate English chef, Paul Cunningham.
Obsession launched 2001, originally as a way to boost trade in the dead of winter, but has developed into a key event in the gastronomic calendar for many diners, who return year after year and ensure that many of the dinners are sold out months ahead.
Host chef Lisa Goodwin-Allen said: “Every year Obsession grows in ambition and creativity. It’s where the best in the world come together to create, collaborate and celebrate what makes gastronomy so exciting. After marking our 25th anniversary last year, the excitement and momentum are stronger than ever. The energy and passion that fills the kitchen during Obsession is electric, it’s an experience that stays with you long after the last dish is served.
“Now, with our new owners, Alf and Clare Ellis at the helm, Obsession26 is set to be even more special. Their vision and support are helping us elevate Obsession to new heights, making it not just a celebration of world-class food, but an unforgettable experience for every guest who joins us.”
John Chantarasak of AngloThai in London said: “As a long-time admirer of Obsession and chef Lisa Goodwin-Allen, I am thrilled to join the line-up of chefs for Obsession26, bringing the bold favours and cooking of AngloThai to Northcote. It’s astonishing to read the previous chef names who have graced the Northcote kitchen over the last 25 years of Obsession. I am humbled to chalk my name alongside so many great chefs – a true bucket list moment in my career.”
Sujan Sarkar of Indienne in Chicago continued: “It’s an honour to be part of Northcote’s Obsession26 line up. The event has such an incredible legacy. I’m excited to share my flavours and stories alongside inspiring chefs from around the world, while also learning from and connecting with the creativity that defines Obsession each year. Thank you to chef Lisa Goodwin-Allen for the invitation and for curating such an inspiring celebration of gastronomy.“
Nathan Davies, of Vraic in the Channel Islands, remarked: “We’re delighted to be invited back to take part in this amazing event and to be getting back into the Northcote kitchen, and we’re just as excited to enjoy the Northcote breakfast, as well as see some familiar friendly faces. As always we will bring smoke and fire and the flavour of our new home in Guernsey.”
Phil Howard of Elystan Street in London, who will cook on the final night of Obsession26 alongside John Williams of The Ritz and Adam Byatt of Trinity, concluded: “I cannot wait to join forces with these two titans of the industry to showcase some old school magic to the Northcote audience. It’s been a while, but I am looking forward to cooking up a storm at Obsession once again.”
Tickets for Obsession cost £235 per person and include a Louis Roederer Champagne and canapé reception, 5-course meal, coffee and petit fours; paired wine flights chosen by Northcote MD Craig Bancroft and his team will be available from £70. To apply for tickets, sign up today to the Obsession newsletter at www.northcoteobsession.com.
The full line-up is:
- Friday 23rd January: Lisa Goodwin Allen, Northcote, Ribble Valley (1 star)
- Saturday 24th January: David Taylor, Grace & Savour, West Midlands (1 star)
- Sunday 25th January: Jason Atherton & Spencer Metzger: Row on 5, London (1 star)
- Monday 26th January: Damien Grey, Liath, Co Dublin (2 star)
- Tuesday 27th January: Angelo Sato, Humble Chicken, London (2 star)
- Wednesday 28th January: Nathan Davies, Vraic, Isle of Guernsey
- Thursday 29th January: Gregoire Berger, Kraken, Dubai
- Friday 30th January: Allister Barsby, Hide and Fox, Kent (2 star)
- Saturday 31st January: Paul Proffitt, Pearl by Paul Proffitt, Denmark (1 star)
- Sunday 1st February: Kim Ratcharoen, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, London (3 star)
- Monday 2nd February: John Chantarasak, AngloThai, London (1 star)
- Tuesday 3rd February: Tom Spenceley, The Ledbury, London (3 star)
- Wednesday 4th February: Alex Verhoeven, Hert, Belgium (1 star)
- Thursday 5th February: Bas Van Kranen, Flore, Netherlands (2 star, 1 green star)
- Friday 6th February: Sujan Sarkar, Indienne, Chicago (1 star)
- Saturday 7th February: Jorge Paredes, OMA, London (1 star)
- Sunday 8th February Grand Finale
- John Williams MBE, The Ritz, London (2 star)
- Adam Byatt, Trinity, London (1 star)
- Phil Howard, Elystan Street, London (1 star)
