A top French chef has caused a stew after saying he wanted to cook beef on the bone in a Rochford restaurant.

Christian Germaine, who has two Michelin stars, is a friend of Derek Renouf, boss of the Hotel Renouf in Bradley Way.

Monsieur Germaine is visiting the Hotel Renouf on March 17 and will prepare a meal for the restaurant's customers.

Derek has known the chef, who runs the Chateau de Montreuil restaurant near Le Touquet, France, for more than 20 years and regularly takes groups of people across the Channel to sample his delights.

The French restaurant is the former home of comedy legend Charlie Chaplin. The chef is coming to Rochford to thank Mr Renouf for his previous visits.

He wanted to cook oxtail on the bone but had to change his menu to veal to stop Derek being taken to court.

He said: "His intention was to serve oxtail on the bone and under our English law this is not possible.

"But under European laws if he brought the beef from France it could be used, or I could buy beef from Southern Ireland and use that.

"If I did I would be taken to court under English law only for it to be dismissed on appeal to the European courts."

Derek added: "It's a shame but it's all political. He's going to do veal instead."

Last week Prince Charles caused a stir after tucking into a portion of beef on the bone during a visit to Wales.

Host - top Rochford chef Derek Renouf

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