Celebrity chef of the month
Move over, Jamie Oliver! There's a new super-talented celebrity chef on the scene, and he's only 22. Now the UK's top pastry chef, Will Torrent first became widely known as a dessert supremo when he assisted James Martin in the 2006 TV show Sweet Baby James.
What inspired you to become a pastry chef?
My grandad was a chef and my nan made the best birthday cakes in the world. But I didn't specialise in sweets until I started studying for my degree in culinary arts management at Thames Valley University: my pastry tutor Yolande Stanley really inspired me.
Which other celebrity chef do you most admire, and why?
Heston Blumenthal. When I was 16, I did a week's work experience at his restaurant, The Fat Duck. It really opened my eyes to cooking and cemented my career plans. His precise cooking style and constant search for perfection is inspiring and exciting.
What's been your career highlight so far?
Representing the UK at WorldSkills 2007 in Japan. I beat the French, Germans and Swiss to become the sixth best pastry chef in the world.
What advice would you give to any amateur cooks who insist they can't master pastry?
People always say a good pastry chef has cold hands - but the secret to successful pastry is to keep your equipment cool. Krups have just launched a new food processor, which has built-in scales as well as a pre-programmed auto-mix function for pastry, so you can weigh all your ingredients into the bowl and it mixes it for you. All you have to do is roll it out - with a chilled rolling pin, of course - and bake!
What's your idea of food heaven, and food hell?
My idea of food heaven is anything sweet, but to be honest, chocolate is always a winner. It's such a wonderful ingredient to work with because there are so many different flavours - plus it just tastes great! Food hell has to be quiche. It conjures up memories of party tables laden with supermarket-bought rubbery quiche, and carrot and cucumber batons with dips. Ugh!
What's your favourite chocolate recipe?
There are so many to choose from, but you can't beat good chocolate brownies or soft-centred chocolate chip cookies.
Will Torrent is currently working with Krups Food Prep range. To find out more, go to www.krups.co.uk.
