Welsh chefs prepare canapé reception hosted by Prime Minister

The Prime Minister's 150 invited guests included Welsh MPs, BBC newscaster Huw Edwards, comedian and broadcaster Griff Rhys Jones, stars of the Gavin and Stacey comedy series and members of the Wales rugby team. Welsh National Culinary Team manager Graham Tinsley, executive chef at Carden Park Country Hotel, Golf Resort and Spa near Chester and a director of the Castle Hotel, Conwy, led a team of chefs on the London mission. The chefs included Wayne Roberts, David Kelman, executive head chef at the Ellenborough Park Hotel, Cheltenham, Sally Owens, lecturer at Coleg Llandrillo Cymru, Rhos on Sea and Harri Williams from Carden Park Country Hotel, Golf Resort and Spa. They served up a range of Wales the True Taste award winning products including Halen Mon cured salmon, Danzy Jones chocolate mousse, Merlin Liqueur tartlet, Pantysgawen goat's cheese tartlet, Perlas cheese fritters. The Welsh National Culinary Team, which will be competing in the Culinary Olympics in Germany in October, was invited to prepare the canapes by Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan. "The reception went very well and we had some good feedback about the food, which was great," said Mr Tinsley. "We met David Cameron who asked us about the Culinary Olympics and where we all worked, as he is coming to Wales for his summer family holiday this year and wanted to know good places to eat. He spoke about the quality of Welsh food and culture. "It was a bit surreal driving straight through the gates and parking right outside the front door to 10 Downing Street where the media normally stand. "It's the first time we have cooked for a reception at 10 Downing Street although we did do a reception at the Foreign Office for St David's Day a couple of years ago." Mr Tinsley and Harri Williams then went on to give a Welsh food demonstration at the National Assembly for Wales' Senedd building on St David's Day. The Welsh National Culinary Team is sponsored by the Welsh Government, C&C Catering Equipment Ltd, Brakes, Unilever Foodsolutions UK, Villeroy and Boch and Friedr. Dick, Germany.