AWARD winning chef and patron of the Clarendon Inn, Hebden, Lionel Strub, is celebrating having found a new outlet for combining storytelling with culinary creativity having teamed up with much published author Neil Russell-Jones.

The combination has resulted in a book combining tales written by Neil with recipes from around the world brought to life by Lionel in: ‘The Dining Club of Interesting Occurrences’.

The Dining Club of Interesting Occurrences’ features a cast of professionals from all walks of life who come together as a dining club to enjoy storytelling of global escapades and complimentary culinary experiences. The book comprises a set of short stories spanning horror, adventure, comedy, and mystery, which are based on real conversations that have taken place - with the focus being on extraordinariness. Each story is then matched with a food theme, which Lionel has formed into colourful and creative recipes followed by the menu that together span the globe including the preparation time, cooking time, difficulty, ingredients, method and chef’s tips.

The recipes are accessible to everyone, requiring no special equipment or expertise. Readers can also attempt to crack a code in one chapter with a prize of dinner for two and an overnight stay at the Clarendon Inn.

Lionel said: “This has been a really fun project for me. The concept for this book is so fresh and it’s been a joy to bring some added colour and flavour through my recipes. This book most certainly entertains on all levels, and to me that’s a job well done!”

Although a native of France, Lionel, 56, has a great affection for Yorkshire having lived here for the past 30 years. Classically trained, he graduated from Ecole Hoteliere de Strasbourg in 1982 followed by three years at Le Restaurant des Vannes in Liverdun, an acclaimed two Michelin star restaurant with head chef Jean Pierre Cotard. In 1986, Lionel moved to London and worked in a number of brasseries and restaurants before relocating to Yorkshire in 1989 to work at ‘La Grillade’ in Leeds. In 2010 Lionel opened Mirabelle – a French brasserie in Harrogate, and more recently acquired The Clarendon an award-winning rural pub with rooms in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.

Lionel has gained many accolades for his cooking including, Professional Chef of the Year, semi-finalist of the National Chef of the Year two years running, Best Rural Pub of the Year and the coveted Outstanding Achievement Award. He has also just been awarded the Palmes Culinaire for service to French cuisine in the UK. An award rarely given outside France.

The Dining Club of Interesting Occurrences is published by Yorkshire based Fisher King Publishing and is available at all good retailers and online via Amazon.