Cooking up a storm: Chef David Coutts, his wife Sarah and her sister Emma Clegg

A taste of West End culinary style came to Borehamwood on Monday when a new bistro bar ,, Rushes held an open evening.

The bistro, based in the insurance company Pinnacle's building in Studio Way, played host to a crowd of hungry business people, politicians and friends from the town who came to sample the wide range of dishes being whipped up by the new Chef, David Coutts.

Mr Coutts, the former head chef at Terence Conran's Bluebird Restaurant in Chelsea, prepared a selection of dishes based on European and Asian influences.

He is managing the bistro along with his wife, Sarah Coutts and her sister Emma Clegg, giving the business a family feel.

At Monday's open evening, while a live jazz band played in the corner, wine expert Brough Gurney-Randall conducted a wine-tasting session and waiters brought trays of tasty snacks for the assorted guests to sample.