Chapters Hotel and Restaurant, during September this year, has seen the return of one of their most popular couples. Victor and Victoria Vassallo originally worked at Chapters from March 2005 for four and -a-half years, before deciding to have a change and move to Harrogate.

The couple were originally persuaded to move from Malta by Steven Bell,the current owner of Chapters. After sampling the food and ambience of Victor’s Malta establishment, which had been voted one of the best restaurants in Malta by British Airways Flight magazine, Steven realised this Maltese restaurateur and his talented wife (who trained in Malta under two Michelin-star chefs) were the ideal team to revitalise Chapters.

It turned out to be an inspired choice because during the transformation Victor’s expertise and influence shone through. Why return? “We feel that Stokesley is our home, we have always liked the place since we first arrived,” said Victor. “We kept in touch with Chapters and Steven Bell and whenever we visited Stokesley we were constantly given a warm welcome by the people we knew, many asking us to return. Well, we have now.”

After dining in Harrogate, Steven met the couple and they all decided they would like to work together again. Said Steven: “We are really excited at the return of Victor and Victoria, as are our clients, who the couple always had a good affinity with.”

Victor, aged 50, becomes General Manager and Victoria, 46, Head Chef. They have been married for over 26 years and will be joining their daughter, Catya, who has worked at Chapters for over five years as the chef de partie along with her sous chef fiance, Ian – a real family affair.

“We are enjoying meeting many of our original clients, says Victoria, “but we also look forward to meeting and befriending many more new ones and introducing new and exciting menus.”

The final word goes to Victor: “We want the word out that they we are back – and with our return, returns the passion.”

In this episode our Head Chef, Sean Wilkinson, show you how to make ‘Marbled White Chocolate with Hazelnut Praline Delice’. A really easy dessert for chocolate lovers.

Serves 6

Ingredients:

100ml   Double Cream
25ml     Milk
50g       Praline Paste (or Nutella)
50g       Chocolate
225g     White Chocolate
140ml   Double Cream Lightly Whipped
1          Gelatine Leaf (Soaked in Cold Water for 10 minutes)
6x       Moulds

Watch the Video:

Method:

Place 140ml double cream & 25ml Milk with the White Chocolate and and Melt over a low heat.
Once melted and praline paste and fold
Allow the mixture to cool down for 20 minutes by placing in the fridge
Add the soaked Gelatine and stir until dissolved
Gently fold in the whipped cream, but don’t pour it all in at once
Melt 50g of dark chocolate and feather through the mixture to create a marbled effect
Fill the moulds with the mixture
Place in the fridge and allow too set (Approx 2 Hours)
Enjoy.

He has the unique ability to par flavours, textures and temperatures. He serves modern British and Continental cuisine sometimes with a Molecular twist.

Sean Wilkinson was recently Finalist in Yorkshire Chef of the Year 2009, Winner of UK’s Best Dessert 2007 Restaurant magazine and appeared on TV in UK TV food for Tana Ramsey abd on the Paul O Grady Show.