CONGRATULATIONS to Adam Reid for winning his way through to cook at the Great British Menu’s Great Britons Banquet at The Palace of Westminster. But he left it late. His ‘Golden Empire’ dessert overcame its rivals in the last category in the Finals of this long-running BBC2 cook-off series.
It allowed him to join fellow chefs Mark Abbott (starter), Tommy Banks (fish), Mark Froydenlund (meat) in serving their winning dishes to a guest list of folk who have been honoured by the Queen at this event to mark her 90th birthday. View it here.
ToM may be biased but we’d much prefer to eat the Manchester chef’s amazing creation than any number of Great British bake-off contenders. For the Golden Apple 31-year-old Adam filled a blown sugar golden ‘apple’ with meadowsweet custard, hazelnut crumble, apple compote and apple snow granita. On the way to the finals veteran judging panel of critic Matthew Fort, doyenne of British cookery Prue Leith and acclaimed restaurateur Oliver Peyton all it a perfect 10.
It has been wowing lunchtime customers at The French at The Midland hotel along with his other Great British Menu dishes. All four are still available until Saturday, December 17, from 12.30pm to 1.30pm, Wednesday to Saturday, priced at £75 a head. Visit the-french.co.uk for more information.
You will notice that the website is now adjusted to mark his succession to the culinary throne abdicated by his mentor Simon Rogan. Adam Reid at The French is his big opportunity to establish his own culinary identity. The recent telly exposure has helped him off to a flying start. He will revamp the menu from Tuesday, November 8.
Reid says of his ‘name on the door’ elevation at The French: “This is a huge opportunity for me to showcase my own cooking style which has been developing over the past decade. I want to make Manchester proud and ensure that The French will continue to evolve and impress its local and national customers.”
Adam Reid at The French, The Midland Hotel, Peter Street, Manchester, M60 2DS. 0161 236 3333.