Meet the New Culinary Team at the Whitaker
The award-winning Whitaker Museum and Art Gallery has announced the exciting appointments of a new Head Chef, Chef de Partie and Pâtissier.
New Head Chef, David Dewhurst (pictured right) is a ‘local lad’, born and raised in Rawtenstall. He attended St Mary’s Primary in Haslingden and Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School, going on to study at the University of Manchester.
Most recently David was Head Chef at the Drop Off Café in Edenfield. He is the founder-owner of Foodypants, which caters for private and personalised events, fusing music and eating, which are all about having fun with food and pairing unexpected bedfellows on the plate. He has also worked at L’Entrepot, Dalston Superstore and The Rooftop Café, all in London and was the founder-owner of Northern Soul Kitchen in Brick Lane. David is no stranger to The Whitaker, having hosted numerous Foodypants events at the venue since 2013.
David brings with him a new Chef de Partie, Dave Scott, who joins another recent recruit, Pâtissier Jonathan Ferguson. David says: “A man once said to me ‘people up here just like plain food’. It broke my heart. I moved back home, to Rossendale, and now everyday I try and create something new and unique, bringing it to life through the new menu at the Whitaker.”
Whitaker director, Carl Bell, says: “The Whitaker family is delighted with these appointments. David Dewhurst is a stunning culinary craftsman with a loyal following and an exemplary track record. His previous visits to the Whitaker have been great successes and we’re so pleased that he’s agreed to come on board here permanently. He has great vision and lots of really interesting ideas about how he and the team can expand and enhance our current culinary offer. Dave and Jonathan have made great initial impressions and I’m sure as a team they’re going to be formidable. They really are breathing fresh life and ideas into the place and we’re so excited to see what the future will bring. And the smells from the kitchen are killing me.”
You can sample David and team’s delicious food from Wednesday to Sunday, 9.30am until 5.00pm (last orders for food are at 3pm). For more information and to view a sample menu, please visit www.thewhitaker.org. Tables can be booked by phoning the Whitaker on 01706 260785, although a reservation is not always necessary.