Great British Menu 2023 episode 22 – Central England: Starter and Fish – The final heats, for central England, begin. Returning to the programme after a four-year break is Marianne Lumb, now a private chef for exclusive clients. Joining her are Thom Bateman, chef patron of The Flintlock in Cheddleton, Tom Shepherd, chef patron of Upstairs in Lichfield, and Kareem Roberts, head chef at Trinity in Cambridge.
Presenter Andi Oliver welcomes them to the kitchen, where the theme for this year’s competition is inspired by Paddington’s 65th birthday and a celebration of British animation and illustration – from cartoons to comics to computer games. One of the four must leave the competition at the end of the episode, to be decided by this week’s veteran judge, a previous winner who remains a surprise to the chefs until the moment they walk into the kitchen to taste the first-course canapés.
Great British Menu is back for an incredible eighteenth series, highlighting the amazing culinary talent found across the UK and pitting chefs against one another in a bid to get a spot at the coveted banquet. While the format is staying the same as last year, there are a good few changes, including a brand new judging team and of course a fresh new brief for the judges to tailor their dishes to. Here’s everything you need to know in advance of the series starting.
Great British Menu 2023 episode 22 – Central England: Starter and Fish
Great British Menu is a popular cooking competition TV show that showcases the best chefs in the UK. The show pits the best culinary talents against each other as they compete to create delicious dishes that impress a panel of judges. The contestants come from all over the country and are often celebrated chefs in their own right. The show has gained a cult following and has become a staple of British television.
Each episode of Great British Menu focuses on a specific theme, and the contestants are tasked with creating dishes that are inspired by that theme. The judges then evaluate each dish on its taste, presentation, and overall creativity. The competition is fierce, and the chefs are known to pull out all the stops in order to impress the judges. One of the things that sets Great British Menu apart from other cooking shows is the focus on using fresh, seasonal ingredients. The chefs are encouraged to use local produce and ingredients that are in season, which not only results in better-tasting dishes but also supports local farmers and producers.
In addition to being a great source of entertainment, Great British Menu has also helped to raise the profile of British cuisine. Many of the dishes featured on the show are now being served in some of the best restaurants in the UK, and the show has helped to promote the country’s rich culinary heritage. Great British Menu is a fantastic show that showcases some of the best culinary talent in the UK. With its focus on fresh, seasonal ingredients and innovative cooking techniques, it’s no wonder that the show has become such a popular hit with audiences all over the country.
Andi Oliver
Now in her third year as host, Andi Oliver is an award-winning TV Chef and Broadcaster who enjoys a rich and varied career, with food and music being at the forefront throughout. Andi was a judge on Great British Menu for four series, but left her seat at the judging table to present the show’s festive special in December 2020. Now, in her second year as host, Andi is on hand to encourage and support the chefs through the heat of the kitchen. Andi is a regular face on screen, having previously hosted her own cookery show on BBC Two, Neneh and Andi Dish It Up, and has appeared on BBC One’s Saturday Kitchen.
On air Andi is a regular contributor to The Kitchen Cabinet on BBC Radio 4 alongside Jay Rayner, as well as a contributor to Radio 4’s Award winning The Food Programme. In 2018 she followed in the footsteps of Yotam Ottolenghi and Giorgio Locatelli, and was appointed Head judge – alongside Sheila Dillon – for the prestigious BBC Food and Farming Awards.
Tom Kerridge – Great British Menu 2023 episode 22
Tom Kerridge is an award winning and celebrated chef who brings a taste of culinary magic to his restaurants, cookbooks and across TV screens up and down the country. A Gloucestershire lad, Tom champions British food and suppliers and is known for his work in training and encouraging the next generation of young chefs. From humble beginnings, Tom and his wife Beth built The Hand & Flowers into what it is today, the world’s first and only two Michelin-starred pub. Tom has since launched several more restaurants, penned nine best-selling cookbooks, launched the hugely successful music and food festival Pub in the Park and more recently campaigned alongside Marcus Rashford to help end child hunger in the UK with Full Time meals.
Tom is no stranger to the Great British Menu kitchen, having participated as a chef back in 2010 and 2011, winning the main course round both years, and returning again in 2012 as a veteran, helping to mentor and guide the chefs through to the judges table.
