MAKE a date in your telly diary for Monday, September 12. That’s the start of the weeklong North West heats of BBC 2’s Great British Menu when a trio of local chefs battle it out to progress in the long-running cook-off series.
Local is a bit confusing actually. Both Cheshire lass Kim Woodward and Liverpool-born Matt Worswick work in the south of England – Kim at London’s Savoy Grill and previous contestant Matt atThe Latymer at Pennyhill Park in Surrey.
So that leaves to truly represent the region – in ToM’s eyes – our own Adam Reid, head chef of Simon Rogan at The French in the Midland Hotel, just named No.18 in the 2017 Waitrose Good Food Guide’s Top 50 UK restaurants.
The 2016 Great British Menu, which will broadcast from Broadcast from Monday, August 29, makes history as the Palace of Westminster opens its doors for the first televised banquet to be held in the historic House of Commons Members’ Dining Room.
At the ‘Great Britons’ themed feast celebrating the Queen’s 90th birthday this year the chefs will challenged to create dishes which could be a fitting legacy to our Modern Elizabethan Age.
Her Majesty’s Great Britons are ordinary people who have been recognised on the Queen’s birthday and New Year’s honours' list over the years for their extraordinary achievements in different walks of life. Others have won the highest military honour, the VC, or been given medals for gallantry for courage at home and overseas.
In the regional heats, the chefs’ dishes will be judged by eight competition veterans who are now among the most accomplished and successful chefs in the UK. They include Adam Reid’s mentor Simon Rogan, Lisa Allen of Northcote, Michael O’Hare, Daniel Clifford, Phil Howard, Richard Corrigan and Angela Hartnett.
The two chefs who are scored most highly by the veteran judges will then present their four-course menu to award-winning restaurant critic Matthew Fort; doyenne of British cookery, Prue Leith; and acclaimed restaurateur Oliver Peyton.
Each week the panel of three will be joined by a guest judge who has been feted in his or her field. They include award-winning food writers and critics as well as esteemed chefs and restaurateurs honoured for their services to the hospitality industry. The eight regional winners will then compete in the National Finals for a chance to cook at the Great Britons Banquet.
The Waitrose Guide is published on September 5. It has named Simon Rogan’s flagship restaurant, L’Enclume in Cartmel as Britain’s Top Restaurant for the fourth year running with a perfect 10/10 score, while his Fera in London’s Claridge’s is 15th in the list – like the French holding an 8/10 score.
During the Manchester Food and Drink Festival in October Adam Reid will be hosting his own pop-up restaurant for three days in the Albert Square hub. Buy your tickets here.