From 1994 until early in 2010 the BBC broadcast a daytime programme called Ready, Steady, Cook. It was a very simple idea based on two ‘celebrity’ chefs competing against one another to create the best dish or dishes in 20 minutes from a set of unknown ingredients chosen by members of the audience. The success of the show relied on their inventiveness, fast thinking and skill to prepare an appetising and good looking two course meal. They also needed to be quite quick witted as the host of the show would often interrupt and distract the chefs from what they were doing. After all this was meant to be entertaining not just a lesson in how to cook some food.
A local restauranteur in our village, namely Nik Westacott of 82 Fishbourne, offered to replicate the Ready, Steady, Cook format and played host to two professional chefs: Neil Rusbridger, a lecturer and chef at Highbury College and Viv Casson from Cassons Restaurant near Chichester. The event was staged last week in front of a paying audience and proceeds would benefit The St Peter Project. I was asked to take some photographs and whilst the images will always be ‘record’ shots, I hope they have captured something of the atmosphere and fun of the evening.
Host and local character – Nik Westacott
Neil Rusbridger – one of the two professional chefs
Viv Casson – concentration
Neil mixing his ingredients
The packed hall
Neil and Viv had 30 minutes and they prepared some really fine dishes.
The event was great fun and a huge success raising over £1,300 for the St Peter Project.
All the images were taken with the Olympus OMD EM5 and 45mm f1.8 Olympus prime lens.
alan frost photography 
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