Royal dish cooked again at Yorks pub

A lamb dish cooked for the royal family at The Ritz Hotel in London 11 years ago is to be served up again by the chef who cooked it — this time around at an award-winning country pub and restaurant in West Yorkshire.

Ian Booth, head chef at the Ring O'Bells in Thornton, Bradford, will be recreating the canon of lamb with tomato and basil main course to commemorate this month's royal wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton.

He first made the meal while working as a chef at The Ritz to mark the 70th birthday celebrations in 2000 of the late Princess Margaret.

Booth said: "It was a private party and one of the few occasions the entire royal family had all been in one room together outside of a Royal palace.

"The royal family held many private parties at The Ritz and I have also cooked for the Queen Mother, Prince Philip and Prince Charles."

Booth studied at Huddersfield Catering College before starting at The Ritz as commis chef and leaving three years later as senior chef de partie. He has been head chef at the Ring O'Bells for two years.

Five chefs will be on duty for the pub's six-day celebration of the royal wedding from Monday 25 April to the following Saturday.

Pub proprietor Ann Preston said: "The prince and his wife-to-be have insisted that all food served at their wedding should feature British produce and Ian and his team have responded by creating a special 'best of British' menu.

"The canon of lamb signature dish will be available throughout the royal wedding celebrations, supported by other special dishes from England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland."