One of Wales’ top Michelin star chefs, Chris Harrod, has triumphed over his competitors in Great British Menu over the last few weeks, where he has gone on to win his heats to go through to represent Wales in the competition’s final which is being aired next Monday – on the 8th October.
The tough competition has shown some of the UK’s best chefs compete to cook for a banquet dedicated to our NHS workers to celebrate the NHS in its 70th year. It has been a competition which has seen the chefs produce a range of inspired and innovative dishes which wow-ed its viewers as much as the judges.
Chris’ cooking celebrates the best of Wales, using a selection of ingredients foraged from his local area of Monmouthshire, where he is proud to have grown up and live now. His main course particularly stood out: Huntsham Farm Suckling Pig, salt baked celeriac, pear, lamb’s sorrel which was elegantly presented and awarded a coveted 10/10 by notoriously tough critic and Michelin star chef, Paul Ainsworth who commented: “The skill and execution of what I saw you cook today was phenomenal. I’ve got goose pimples telling you that right now… it was absolutely delicious… absolute perfection and that’s not a word that I say easily.”
Some of Chris’ on stand out dishes are now featuring on The Whitebrook menu; his restaurant with Rooms in Monmouthshire which is nestled in the rural backdrop of the Wye Valley. The Whitebrook earned him a Michelin star within the first 11 months of being open – a impressive and coveted achievement in the restaurant world. Famed for using the countryside as his larder, Chris forages locally, sourcing almost everything else from his doorstep. His cooking has been described as ‘the Wye Valley on a plate’.
He really celebrates the best of Wales in his dishes both in his restaurant and on the competition show, making it a really enthralling watch and one which makes us proud to be Welsh.
The final on Monday 8th October will see Chris compete against 8 other talented chefs to be part of the very special event in honour the NHS’s 70th anniversary. One outstanding chef will also be crowned the champion of champions when banquet diners vote on their favourite dish in the final episode.
It’s bound to be a close competition and certainly one you don’t want to miss. Tune in on BBC Two at 7pm to watch.
And to find out more about Chris’ career, the Whitebrook restaurant and its menus, visit their website at: http://www.thewhitebrook.co.uk/
