THERE’S no doubt Masterchef can change your life. Witness Simon Wood, who won the non-professional version of the competition in 2015. Three years on his resultant WOOD restaurant has just won two AA rosettes.
Meanwhile, David Crichton, a top three runner-up this year, is still readjusting to life after the pressure cooker that is the BBC One cook-off. The Bramhall-based pilot is keeping the Thomas Cook Airlines day job he combined with creating innovative dishes on his days off But now the 40-year-old Geordie is in demand for public appearances. In July he’ll be doing a cooking demo at the Tatton Foodies Festival; before that he is making his pop-up dinner debut at Laithwaites Wine Store in Alderley Edge on Wednesday, May 16 and Saturday May 19.
Will we see the dishes that wowed Masterchef judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace before he eventually lost out in the final to Worthing bank manager Kenny Tutt?
Maybe some fine tuning involved, but the starter is the dish (pictured above) that laid down his marker – beetroot sorbet with a chicken breast and blue cheese, celery and walnut salad – followed by a main of Iberico presa with a carrot ketchup and pumpkin seed pesto. Apple crumble is the dessert (not his competition George Michael caramel homage, Careless Wispa!) with an added cheese course for the Saturday sittings.
Expect the optional wine flights to be worth the journey at this specialist wine store that opened in November, offering over 400 wines in stock plus a wide beer range.
Resuming his excellent food blog, David outlines his immediate plans: “I always knew I would never give up flying. Unless I was offered a long term contract with a large salary, why would I? I was still working while most of the filming was done. Work were extremely flexible though when I needed it.
“I’m currently working on my options. I want to cook, to learn and so everyone can come and eat my food. I want people to come because they want to eat my food, not because it is dinner out. I have a few options which could certainly make this work. I’m also under no illusion that this will be very hard work. Enjoyable though.
“My current thoughts are to hopefully run a couple of pop-ups a month. Midweek and weekend, hopefully in the city centre and local. While writing my book in the background and getting this published as soon as possible.”
David Crichton pop-ups, Wednesday, May 16 (£35) Saturday May 19 (£45, two sittings). Due to demand a further date has been announced for Friday, June 1. Laithwaites, 32 South St, Alderley Edge SK9 7ES. 0161 507 2233. (David Crichton picture: BBC/Masterchef)