After a two-year wait caused by the coronavirus pandemic, one of the most prestigious and internationally recognised gourmet festivals in Europe, Obsession, will return to Northcote in the Ribble Valley in 2022.
Taking place between 21st January to 6th February, the event will see sixteen world class chefs with 15 Michelin stars between them, cook at the luxury Lancashire hotel and Michelin star restaurant, headed up by executive chef Lisa Goodwin-Allen.
The culinary celebration, which takes place over 14 nights, will see some of Britain and Ireland’s best chefs travel to the North West from Edinburgh to Dublin, London to Newcastle and beyond - to cook their unique Obsession menus with the Northcote team.
Obsession was launched 2001 by Nigel Haworth at Northcote as a celebration of great food, wine and a meeting of friends, old and new. It has evolved from that first event, but the ethos is still very much the same; to offer guests a completely memorable culinary experience, created by some of the world’s most innovative chefs right here in the North West.
This year’s very special line up has just been revealed:
Friday 21st January: Lisa Goodwin Allen, Northcote, Ribble Valley (1 star)
Saturday 22nd January: Matt Abe, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, London (3 stars)
Sunday 23rd January: Mickael Viljanen, Chapter One (previously The Greenhouse), Dublin
Monday 24th January: Jordan Bailey, Aimsir, County Kildare (2 stars)
Tuesday 25th January: Simon Rogan & Tom Barnes, L’Enclume, Cumbria (2 stars)
Wednesday 26th January: Roberta Hall, The Little Chartroom, Edinburgh
Thursday 27th January: Alex Bond, Alchemilla, Nottingham (1 star)
Friday 28th January: Galton Blackiston, Morston Hall, Norfolk (1 star)
Saturday 29th January: Hrishikesh Desai, Gilpin Hotel & Lakehouse, Cumbria (1 star)
Sunday 30th January: Kenny Atkinson, House of Tides, Newcastle (1 star)
Wednesday 2nd February: James Martin, celebrity chef and TV presenter
Thursday 3rd February: Tom Kerridge, The Hand & Flowers, Marlow (2 stars)
Friday 4th February: Atul Kochhar, Atul Kochhar Restaurants, London
Sunday 6th February will be the grand finale with Lisa Goodwin Allen being joined by Monica Galetti, Mere, London and Nieves Barragan Mohacho, Sabor, London (1 star)
“Obsession 22 is particularly special,” says Lisa Goodwin-Allen, executive chef at Northcote. “After having to cancel this year’s festival due to the pandemic and with the hospitality industry taking such a hit, we’re all ready to put on a show of culinary brilliance. This year it was only right to bring all corners of Britain and Ireland together, focusing on the incredible talent that we have on our shores, but still with an injection of different styles of cooking, different regional ingredients and different flavours. We have some great emerging chefs like Alex Bond, and much-loved household names, as well as some of the UK’s best female chefs, joining us.”
Chef Tom Kerridge, who will be bringing a team from the two star Hand & Flowers restaurant in Marlow to Obsession on 3rd February, said: “I can’t wait. Obsession is such an exciting and incredible event to be a part of. It’s one of the most established and well known and has built up such a following, not just in the north, but all over the country. This festival of food is a massive celebration and an opportunity to showcase great chefs and British produce.”
Tickets for Obsession 22 go on sale on 28th September and are priced at £160 per person, including a Louis Roederer Champagne and canapé reception, five course menu, coffee and petit fours. A specially paired wine flight can be added, starting from around £65 per person.Managing director Craig Bancroft and his wine team meticulously choose wines to pair with the unique flavours and ingredients of each course each night, to really elevate the dining experience. Northcote recently retained its Spectator Two Glass Wine Award for its absolute commitment to wine, and breadth of the cellar across multiple winegrowing regions including Burgundy, Spain and Portugal.
The official charity for Obsession 22 is Hospitality Action which supports members of the hospitality industry who are going through difficult times.
For more information visit https://www.northcoteobsession.com/
VIP hospitality packages are available to book for six or more people in the Louis Roederer Room or at the Chef’s Table, from £2,350 + VAT.