Studio b introduces Fish-N-Chips! Great Britain Meets the South

Colleen Duffley, owner of Studio b at Alys Beach, is always on the lookout for interesting people to bring to Studio b. When she heard of Chef Jason Palin, she knew she had to bring him to the beach.

Palin is, what Duffley calls, "the real deal."

Palin is the owner of Gourmet Gusto in northwest England. He teaches cooking to children and adults, does food fairs and delivers inspirational talks.

In his 28 years of working as a chef, Palin has traveled to 43 countries and cooked in India, Australia, the Channel Islands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and has done dinner parties in Washington, D.C.

In his travels to the United States, Palin has visited New York, Miami, Washington D.C., and San Diego, but he has never been to Northwest Florida. That changes this week when he arrives in Alys Beach at Duffley's invitation to conduct some cooking demonstrations and tastings at Studio b.

Palin taught his first private classes this week.

On Jan. 31, he will team with local charter fisherman Larry Pentel in catching and preparing their catch from the Gulf in a class Duffley calls “Fish-N-Chips! Great Britain Meets the South where English style meets Southern style.”

Duffley said she issued the invitation to Palin after hearing about him from a foodie friend. Palin accepted after talking with Duffley and realizing she was into creativity.

"I enjoy the American experience," he said. "I think it's fantastic that we're coming back to the slow-food movement, which is a passion of mine," said Palin.

In his bio, Palin states that his love of food and cooking began at an early age when his grandmother simmered sheep’s head broth with barley carrots and lots of onions for hours.

"In her little terraced house there was Lancashire cheese and onion rings soaked in Sarsons vinegar on the table. I would catch rabbits with my dad on a Sunday morning and pull carrots and potatoes from farmers' fields, then home to stand on a stool over the sink and prepare my catch," he remembers.

Palin trained as a chef in the Army catering corps entering competitions and being mentored by inspirational master chefs. After three years he left the army and traveled, cooking in London, Melbourne and Sydney. In Australia he worked at the Regent Melbourne, then became head chef at Whitecrest Resort, Apollo Bay, Victoria.

His latest project is holding regular cookery demonstrations and classes at the Cheshire Cookery School, a private foodie heaven.

At the Jan. 31 class, Palin will prepare the traditional British fish and chips, but he is also toying with the possibility that he will prepare it three different ways for variety sake, and serve all on one plate. The chips will also be prepared three different ways with one being potato cakes.

"I am playing with it," said Palin. "I'm mad about food. There is nothing better."

For more information about Chef Jason Palin go to www.gourmetgusto.co.uk.

For more information about Studio b. or to register for the class, visit www.studiobthebeach.com, email scoop@studiobthebeach or call 214-415-0476.