A RISCA chef who worked alongside Heston Blumenthal has launched a food van that will bring molecular gastronomy to dinner parties across the UK.

Charles Rouse, 40, who is originally from Devon, has worked with Michelin star chefs like Michael Caines, Stephen Terry and Shane Hughes.

Mr Rouse has also cooked alongside BBC Masterchef runner-up Mark Jenkin at the Barrington Oak and celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal at the Hinds Head in Bray. At just 18, he was part of the team awarded three Rosettes at the Buckerell Lodge in Exeter.

In December, Mr Rouse decided to use Risca as a base for his upmarket venture with his fiancee and business partner, Uta Rengert.

Armed with a 12-foot Dakota van, complete with six oven burners and two fridges, Mr Rouse is using this mobile catering unit to give his own take on Blumenthal-style cooking techniques.

Whether it’s smoked salmon with rye crisps and lemon fluid gel or banoffee pie with dehydrated banana crisps and toffee fluid gel, Mr Rouse has everything covered.

He said: “I slaved my life away for other people and I wanted to step out on my own. It’s a bold move.

“A restaurant can turn over 100 covers a day; I can only turn over 10-15.

"30-40 per cent of my income goes on food. On top of that, there’s two days of prep involved and I've still got to pay staff.

“I looked at chef at home practices and they are very intrusive. They're going into someone’s house and expecting them to be there all day.

“We can just turn up.”

Prices start at £90 per person. For more information, visit http://rouserengertcuisine.co.uk.