A CHEF who cooks for celebrities in a world famous hotel today told how he was inspired by his mum's home-made parkin.

Neil Wigglesworth, 45, is executive chef at Twin Farms in Central Vermont, USA, considered one of the finest hotels in the world.

A room for the night at the prestigious country inn costs up to $2,400 -- but it was cooking with mum Rita in Oswaldtwistle that launched Neil on his sizzling career.

Neil, a former pupil at Hollins High School, Accrington, said: "We only have a maximum of 30 guests at a time and no menus.

"Each meal is tailored to the individual person, even those with the most unusual dietary requirements.

"One lady stays with us twice a year and will only eat quail eggs for breakfast, while another requested waffles and ice-cream for dinner!

"I cater to the every whim of my customers, because when people are paying that kind of money we have to give them exactly what they want."

But it was mum Rita's wholesome Lancashire food that first wetted Neil's appetite for a glittering career in catering.

"I'll never forget her shepherd's pie, cooked with oysters in the old-fashioned style, or her parkin. I remember buying tripe and trotters with her on Accrington Market, then tucking into bacon barm cakes when we got home.

"I have wonderful memories of my East Lancashire childhood and I always knew that I wanted to be a chef, although it was a bit unusual in those days for boys to study domestic science.

"I was one of only two boys in a cookery class with 16 girls and I certainly got a lot of stick from my mates, but my cakes were always the best!"

Neil's mum was due to be among the guests to see Neil cooking at a food festival at Northcote Manor tonight.

"She is really proud and I hope to cook her a meal to remember, although parkin isn't on the menu!" Neil added.

Current headteacher of Hollins High School, Frank Havard, said: "We've developed quite a lot too since Neil was here. We've now got technology college status which encompasses food technology and all the students do the subject up to age 14 and beyond if they take the option.

"His old cookery room is an ICT suite now, but we do have a purpose-built brand new food technology room."