Great British Menu 2009 winners named
Chefs Kenny Atkinson, Glynn Purnell, Nigel Haworth and Shaun Rankin will cook at a homecoming banquet for troops fighting in Afghanistan later this month after being declared winners of the fourth series of the BBC Two show Great British Menu.
After eight weeks of heats and an intense final round on Friday, judges Prue Leith, Matthew Fort and Oliver Peyton and votes from the public decided which of the 16 chefs would create four dishes for the banquet.
Atkinson, finalist for the North East round as chosen to create the starter, a Salad of Aberdeen Angus Beef, carrots, horseradish and Shetland Black Potatoes and Purnell, Central finalist, to create the fish course - Masala Spiced Monkfish with Red Lentils, Pickled Carrots and Coconut.
North West chef Nigel Haworth`s main course of Lonk Lamb Lancashire Hot Pot, Roast Loin, Pickled Red Cabbage, Carrots and Leeks will also be served at the meal as will South West finalist Shaun Rankin`s dessert of Treacle Tart with Clotted Cream and Raspberry Ripple Ice Cream.
Leith said all the finalists had captured the competition`s theme of a `Taste of Home`.
"What is really exciting for me is that they haven`t made these traditional British things stodgy and boring – they are exquisite. Their skill, their passion for it, it`s just lifted it to a degree that is just sublime and I can`t wait. Roll on the banquet," she said.
The Great British Menu banquet will be broadcast on BBC Two in the week commencing June 15.
Great British Menu chefs prepare for cook off
