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-Am I irritating you yet, lad? -You are, yeah. | 0:00:02 | 0:00:05 | |
On Great British Menu, the nation's top chefs are striving to produce | 0:00:05 | 0:00:08 | |
awe-inspiring food | 0:00:08 | 0:00:10 | |
for a magnificent Olympic feast. | 0:00:10 | 0:00:13 | |
There have been highs... | 0:00:13 | 0:00:14 | |
CHEERING | 0:00:14 | 0:00:16 | |
A ten - phew! | 0:00:16 | 0:00:18 | |
..and lows... | 0:00:18 | 0:00:19 | |
Fire! | 0:00:19 | 0:00:20 | |
Absolutely awful. It's a tragedy. | 0:00:20 | 0:00:22 | |
..and the veteran chefs are as outspoken as ever... | 0:00:22 | 0:00:25 | |
It's quite remarkable. I mean they really are beasts unleashed in there. | 0:00:25 | 0:00:29 | |
For me, I'm not sure that actually quite works. | 0:00:29 | 0:00:32 | |
This week, fighting it out to represent Northern Ireland | 0:00:32 | 0:00:35 | |
is former champion Niall McKenna... | 0:00:35 | 0:00:37 | |
I've been to the banquet before. I want to get there again. | 0:00:37 | 0:00:40 | |
..last year's Chris Fearon... | 0:00:40 | 0:00:42 | |
'I'm back here again. Round two.' | 0:00:42 | 0:00:43 | |
Ding ding. I want to win again. | 0:00:43 | 0:00:46 | |
..and the chef he beat - Chris Bell. | 0:00:46 | 0:00:49 | |
I'm determined to get to the banquet this year and it's going to take something pretty good to stop me. | 0:00:49 | 0:00:54 | |
And former champion Niall's in trouble from the start. | 0:00:54 | 0:00:56 | |
I need a sick bag. | 0:00:56 | 0:00:58 | |
There's something wrong with the water bath. | 0:00:58 | 0:01:00 | |
I don't know what's going on here. | 0:01:00 | 0:01:02 | |
It's totally stitched me up here. Oh no. | 0:01:02 | 0:01:04 | |
This year, the chefs have had to come up with groundbreaking menus | 0:01:14 | 0:01:17 | |
that push boundaries, | 0:01:17 | 0:01:19 | |
like the athletes at the London 2012 games. | 0:01:19 | 0:01:22 | |
Be confident with it. | 0:01:22 | 0:01:24 | |
The chefs have sought inspiration from record-breaking Olympians. | 0:01:24 | 0:01:28 | |
You don't want to make no mistakes. | 0:01:28 | 0:01:30 | |
And gone that extra mile to ensure their dishes | 0:01:30 | 0:01:32 | |
stand out from the crowd. | 0:01:32 | 0:01:34 | |
ALL: Oh, wow! | 0:01:34 | 0:01:35 | |
Their gold medal - | 0:01:35 | 0:01:37 | |
the chance to cook for our world-class Olympians | 0:01:37 | 0:01:39 | |
and the friends and families who have cheered them on every step of the way. | 0:01:39 | 0:01:43 | |
You've got to raise the bar. | 0:01:43 | 0:01:45 | |
You have to believe there's a level beyond where we are. | 0:01:45 | 0:01:48 | |
But first, they have to impress a veteran of the competition | 0:01:48 | 0:01:51 | |
who will taste and score their dishes. | 0:01:51 | 0:01:54 | |
This week for Northern Ireland, | 0:01:54 | 0:01:55 | |
it's one of the most feared chefs in Great British Menu's history - | 0:01:55 | 0:01:59 | |
Richard Corrigan. | 0:01:59 | 0:02:01 | |
The work they need to put into the food | 0:02:01 | 0:02:03 | |
for this banquet is massive. | 0:02:03 | 0:02:06 | |
They really need to impress. | 0:02:06 | 0:02:09 | |
Come Thursday, he'll be sending the two highest scoring chefs | 0:02:09 | 0:02:12 | |
through to the judges. | 0:02:12 | 0:02:14 | |
If I was first to get sent home, I'd be absolutely gutted. | 0:02:14 | 0:02:17 | |
That's my worst fear coming back this year - | 0:02:17 | 0:02:20 | |
to crash and burn first, after doing so well last year. Heartbreaking. | 0:02:20 | 0:02:23 | |
Scallops, beef and a venison. | 0:02:28 | 0:02:31 | |
First up is award-winning Chris Bell - head chef | 0:02:31 | 0:02:34 | |
at the River restaurant in Ballymena, Co. Antrim... | 0:02:34 | 0:02:36 | |
-Service! -.. whose classical cooking with a modern twist | 0:02:36 | 0:02:39 | |
failed to make it over the finishing line last year. | 0:02:39 | 0:02:42 | |
I was gutted last year when I got pipped at the post. | 0:02:42 | 0:02:45 | |
'I've got to stop playing it safe and get out of my comfort zone' | 0:02:45 | 0:02:48 | |
I know that this year, that's what it's going to take and I'll do that. | 0:02:48 | 0:02:52 | |
-Chris! -How are you? -Welcome back. | 0:02:54 | 0:02:56 | |
-Thank you very much. -How are you doing this time? | 0:02:56 | 0:02:58 | |
Not so bad. Bit nervous. | 0:02:58 | 0:03:00 | |
What's your menu this year? | 0:03:00 | 0:03:01 | |
OK, starter course for me today is a salad of rabbit, | 0:03:01 | 0:03:04 | |
rhubarb and black pudding with tea and ginger biscuits. | 0:03:04 | 0:03:08 | |
The rabbit, | 0:03:08 | 0:03:09 | |
I'm going to cook it three or four different ways, | 0:03:09 | 0:03:11 | |
I'm going to make dumplings from the legs, poach the loins, | 0:03:11 | 0:03:14 | |
make a consomme from the bones, serve it in the teapot, | 0:03:14 | 0:03:17 | |
serving rabbit dumplings in the cup, with tea and ginger biscuits on the side. | 0:03:17 | 0:03:21 | |
Rhubarb and rabbit - it's an unusual combination. | 0:03:21 | 0:03:24 | |
-I really believe it works. -What's groundbreaking about this recipe? | 0:03:24 | 0:03:27 | |
I'm going to make some jelly from the rhubarb, | 0:03:27 | 0:03:30 | |
use some sodium amalgamate and chloride | 0:03:30 | 0:03:32 | |
and do some caviar to go in the consomme. | 0:03:32 | 0:03:35 | |
You've brought your chemist's box with you, that's good. Very now. | 0:03:35 | 0:03:38 | |
-Is this good enough? -I believe it is. | 0:03:38 | 0:03:40 | |
You believe, come on! | 0:03:40 | 0:03:42 | |
-You believed last year. -I know. | 0:03:42 | 0:03:43 | |
-Are you good enough this year? -Definitely! | 0:03:43 | 0:03:45 | |
Chris Bell's kick-starting his Olympic menu | 0:03:45 | 0:03:48 | |
with a daring rabbit and rhubarb dish, | 0:03:48 | 0:03:50 | |
complete with quirky rabbit tea | 0:03:50 | 0:03:53 | |
and savoury ginger biscuits. | 0:03:53 | 0:03:54 | |
The risks are enormous. | 0:03:54 | 0:03:57 | |
He has to make a rabbit tea, | 0:03:57 | 0:03:59 | |
he has to make a rhubarb jelly - | 0:03:59 | 0:04:01 | |
there's so much going on. | 0:04:01 | 0:04:03 | |
I'm even nervous for him. Can he even get it up on time? | 0:04:03 | 0:04:07 | |
Right guys, two crab there, please, two plaice. | 0:04:07 | 0:04:09 | |
Next up is former dessert course champion Niall McKenna | 0:04:09 | 0:04:12 | |
chef proprietor of James Street South in Belfast, | 0:04:12 | 0:04:14 | |
renowned for its classic French cuisine. | 0:04:14 | 0:04:18 | |
Service here, please. | 0:04:18 | 0:04:19 | |
He's returning to the competition after a year off, | 0:04:19 | 0:04:22 | |
hoping for a repeat performance with a simple menu | 0:04:22 | 0:04:25 | |
that lets his ingredients do the talking. | 0:04:25 | 0:04:27 | |
I've been to the final before. The pressure is on to do it again. | 0:04:27 | 0:04:30 | |
This time I'm going totally out of my comfort zone. | 0:04:30 | 0:04:33 | |
I'll push the boundaries, which is the whole Olympic feel. | 0:04:33 | 0:04:36 | |
At the end of the day, I'm desperate to win. | 0:04:36 | 0:04:38 | |
-Niall, how are you? -Not bad, chef. -Welcome. -Thank you. | 0:04:41 | 0:04:44 | |
-You didn't come last year? -No, had a baby. | 0:04:44 | 0:04:46 | |
This year I'm here to win, so... Exciting. | 0:04:46 | 0:04:48 | |
So the brief this year. You've studied it carefully? | 0:04:48 | 0:04:51 | |
Big-time. This year, I'm starting off with pig sweetbreads | 0:04:51 | 0:04:55 | |
served with truffle-baked onion and a duck egg. | 0:04:55 | 0:04:58 | |
The duck egg's cooked gently in oil just to get the yolk with it. | 0:04:58 | 0:05:01 | |
So it's a rich dish, a very simple dish. | 0:05:01 | 0:05:03 | |
I think the flavours are a brilliant combination. Good produce from Northern Ireland. | 0:05:03 | 0:05:06 | |
Tamworth pig. | 0:05:06 | 0:05:09 | |
I don't think I've never seen pig sweetbread on a menu. | 0:05:10 | 0:05:13 | |
-And probably for good reason. -Really? To me, the whole brief is, it's groundbreaking. | 0:05:13 | 0:05:17 | |
It's something different. And it is definitely a gamble. | 0:05:17 | 0:05:20 | |
And so it's one of those dishes that will work or it won't. | 0:05:20 | 0:05:22 | |
I need a sick bag. | 0:05:22 | 0:05:24 | |
Thanks, Richard(!) | 0:05:25 | 0:05:27 | |
Niall's taking a huge risk, | 0:05:27 | 0:05:29 | |
serving unusual pig sweetbreads with pungent truffle. | 0:05:29 | 0:05:33 | |
Pig sweetbreads - it's a very cheffy thing to do. | 0:05:33 | 0:05:37 | |
But where does it fit in this competition? | 0:05:37 | 0:05:39 | |
Last up is returning champion Chris Fearon, | 0:05:42 | 0:05:45 | |
self-taught head chef of Deanes at Queens in Belfast, | 0:05:45 | 0:05:48 | |
who last year saw off far more experienced chefs | 0:05:48 | 0:05:51 | |
with his playful chicken in a bag starter. | 0:05:51 | 0:05:53 | |
I got a few raised eyebrows last year when I came into it with the sort of stuff I came across with. | 0:05:53 | 0:05:57 | |
It's going to be sort of similar this year. | 0:05:57 | 0:06:00 | |
I'm going in guns blazing. Yeah, I want to surprise a few people. | 0:06:00 | 0:06:04 | |
But he needs to get past Richard Corrigan first, | 0:06:04 | 0:06:07 | |
who, in last year's final, showed him no mercy. | 0:06:07 | 0:06:10 | |
If anything, it has got worse. | 0:06:10 | 0:06:12 | |
You should have listened to me. There was a bin beside you. | 0:06:12 | 0:06:15 | |
-That's where it belonged. -Ouch! | 0:06:15 | 0:06:17 | |
-Hello Richard. -Chris, how are you? -Good to see you. -Do you mean that? | 0:06:20 | 0:06:24 | |
-Yes, of course. -Are you sure? -Yes. | 0:06:24 | 0:06:29 | |
-What have you got for me today? -The dish is Clay Pigeon Shoot. | 0:06:29 | 0:06:32 | |
I suppose it's like a tagine of pigeon with some blood orange. | 0:06:32 | 0:06:36 | |
It's got some pea shoots into it. And nice armagnac spices. | 0:06:36 | 0:06:41 | |
A little bit of argan oil and fennel. I'm going to break the leg down off the bird. | 0:06:41 | 0:06:44 | |
Confit it down really slowly, roll it in spring roll pastry. | 0:06:44 | 0:06:48 | |
Recreate my version of a pastilla. | 0:06:48 | 0:06:50 | |
-Explain to me about the argan oil? -It's pretty awful, actually. | 0:06:50 | 0:06:53 | |
There's a few goats running about in the hills in Morocco, eating the fruit of the tree. | 0:06:53 | 0:06:57 | |
When they pass it through, the locals pick out the kernels of the fruit and they press that to make an oil. | 0:06:57 | 0:07:02 | |
So it's been passed through an animal before you get it. | 0:07:02 | 0:07:04 | |
-I don't use much of this oil in my kitchens! -No? -No! | 0:07:04 | 0:07:08 | |
Neither do I! But for this dish, I think it suits it pretty well. | 0:07:08 | 0:07:11 | |
-What's Olympian about it? -I'm actually using real clay pigeons to recreate a tagine. | 0:07:11 | 0:07:15 | |
Then I've got a plate made out of gun cartridges. | 0:07:15 | 0:07:18 | |
-Groundbreaking? -For me it is. | 0:07:18 | 0:07:20 | |
-Under pressure? -Yes. | 0:07:20 | 0:07:22 | |
Chris Fearon is hoping his quirky presentation, | 0:07:23 | 0:07:26 | |
using a playful take on a clay pigeon shoot | 0:07:26 | 0:07:29 | |
and his daring use of spices, will give him the edge. | 0:07:29 | 0:07:33 | |
Chris Fearon always brings something theatrical to this competition. | 0:07:33 | 0:07:37 | |
But is it too theatrical? | 0:07:37 | 0:07:38 | |
Has he put enough thought into this dish? | 0:07:38 | 0:07:40 | |
I'm not too sure. | 0:07:40 | 0:07:42 | |
The cooking is well underway in the kitchen. | 0:07:43 | 0:07:46 | |
It might just be the first course, but every point counts. | 0:07:46 | 0:07:49 | |
The chefs can't afford to make any mistakes, with Richard watching their every move. | 0:07:49 | 0:07:53 | |
They need to stay calm and focused, and not lose their head. | 0:07:53 | 0:07:57 | |
Well boys, how do youse feel about being up against big Richard again? | 0:07:57 | 0:08:01 | |
-Full of compliments, isn't he? -He gave you a bit of a roasting. | 0:08:01 | 0:08:04 | |
Yeah. Sickbag. That's straight off the mark, you know. | 0:08:04 | 0:08:07 | |
-A good start to the day anyhow! -A good bit of banter, boys. Do you no harm. Keep you sharp. | 0:08:07 | 0:08:11 | |
Chris, I'm looking forward to your dish. The whole... | 0:08:11 | 0:08:14 | |
the aspect of the shot and everything else. | 0:08:14 | 0:08:17 | |
Well, that's my whole style going into this competition, to sort of think outside the box. | 0:08:17 | 0:08:21 | |
I can't wait to taste it as well. | 0:08:21 | 0:08:23 | |
Chris, how do you feel being back second year in a row now? | 0:08:23 | 0:08:26 | |
You're probably the most hungry guy here. You want to prove something, you know? | 0:08:26 | 0:08:29 | |
I'd love an opportunity that youse have had. That's why everybody is here, isn't it? | 0:08:29 | 0:08:33 | |
'Chris got very close last time. | 0:08:33 | 0:08:35 | |
'I think he'll be dying to get there. He will want to win.' | 0:08:35 | 0:08:38 | |
If he nails the brief, he'll be hard to beat. | 0:08:38 | 0:08:40 | |
-Chris, how is it going? -Em, so far, so good, I think. | 0:08:40 | 0:08:43 | |
I've spiced the rabbit loins up a little bit with the ham and leeks, | 0:08:43 | 0:08:47 | |
-and some English mustard. -That sounds good. Lots to go wrong? | 0:08:47 | 0:08:50 | |
-Lots. -That rabbit needs to be slightly pink. | 0:08:50 | 0:08:53 | |
-Consomme or tea you're putting on? -Yeah. I've got some brown chicken and brown rabbit stock. | 0:08:53 | 0:08:57 | |
-And little jelly bowls? -Yeah, I want to get rhubarb into the consomme | 0:08:57 | 0:09:02 | |
without diluting the consomme. | 0:09:02 | 0:09:04 | |
So, just doing this verification, dropping it in. | 0:09:04 | 0:09:07 | |
Some people love it, some hate it. But it's just another technique. | 0:09:07 | 0:09:10 | |
Chris Bell has gone very technical. | 0:09:10 | 0:09:12 | |
These little jelly droplets. That tea or consomme... | 0:09:12 | 0:09:16 | |
So much going on. Has he just overplayed everything? | 0:09:16 | 0:09:21 | |
I hope my starter's good enough to win. There's quite a lot of technical components to the dish. | 0:09:21 | 0:09:26 | |
I think it reflects this year's competition very well. | 0:09:26 | 0:09:29 | |
Chris Bell's award-winning cooking fell at the final hurdle last year. | 0:09:29 | 0:09:34 | |
But this year's Olympic brief is a whole new ball game. | 0:09:34 | 0:09:37 | |
My strategy for this year is very much | 0:09:37 | 0:09:39 | |
to try and use cooking techniques and flavour combinations | 0:09:39 | 0:09:43 | |
that are a little bit different. | 0:09:43 | 0:09:46 | |
They're just very unique to me, and not a carbon copy of something that's been done before. | 0:09:46 | 0:09:50 | |
Chris has done his homework by trying out his Olympic starter | 0:09:50 | 0:09:53 | |
on two of Northern Ireland's most influential food bloggers. | 0:09:53 | 0:09:56 | |
-Tea and biscuits to go on the side. -Fantastic. | 0:09:59 | 0:10:01 | |
Anybody reading this on the menu, would have looked at you like you were crazy. | 0:10:01 | 0:10:05 | |
My thinking with was to shock and surprise with each course, you know. | 0:10:05 | 0:10:09 | |
Beautiful. Not what you're expecting on the palate. which is exciting - you're pushing the boundaries. | 0:10:09 | 0:10:14 | |
It's a class dish. It looks fantastic, it tastes fantastic. | 0:10:14 | 0:10:18 | |
I think it would be awesome to get a dish on the Olympic feast. | 0:10:18 | 0:10:20 | |
I think there are similarities between what we do as chefs and what Olympians do. | 0:10:20 | 0:10:24 | |
I mean, the sacrifices you make. You leave for work early in the morning. | 0:10:24 | 0:10:28 | |
You come home maybe at midnight. | 0:10:28 | 0:10:31 | |
I do leave my wife and my son sat at home by themselves. | 0:10:31 | 0:10:33 | |
And if I can win this competition and make them proud, | 0:10:33 | 0:10:37 | |
then it'll all seem a little bit more worth it. | 0:10:37 | 0:10:39 | |
And Chris's family is 100% behind him. | 0:10:39 | 0:10:42 | |
I'm proud of him every day for what he achieves every day. | 0:10:42 | 0:10:45 | |
It's amazing what he does. | 0:10:45 | 0:10:47 | |
Sorry, I'm filling up there. I don't know why! | 0:10:47 | 0:10:50 | |
Chris is now making dumplings to go in his rabbit and rhubarb tea, | 0:10:55 | 0:10:59 | |
a flavour combination that's causing quite a stir. | 0:10:59 | 0:11:03 | |
Rhubarb and rabbit, I'm sure it'll taste beautiful, | 0:11:03 | 0:11:05 | |
but it is one of those combinations you think, you know, very different. | 0:11:05 | 0:11:08 | |
I think it sounds all right. It sounds nice. | 0:11:08 | 0:11:11 | |
Maybe I'm wrong, I think it's a great combination. | 0:11:11 | 0:11:13 | |
'Tea, rhubarb, rabbit - it's just a total jumble. I just don't know what he's doing.' | 0:11:13 | 0:11:18 | |
So it's going to be interesting to see and taste. | 0:11:18 | 0:11:21 | |
But Niall's got problems of his own in the form of Richard Corrigan, | 0:11:21 | 0:11:25 | |
who's already made it clear he's not convinced by his choice of ingredients. | 0:11:25 | 0:11:30 | |
-Niall, what are you doing with the...? -I'm doing the sweetbreads. | 0:11:30 | 0:11:33 | |
I've just poached them off. And now, I've just... | 0:11:33 | 0:11:36 | |
Half of them I'm going to breadcrumb. And half of them I'm going to sautee in a little butter. | 0:11:36 | 0:11:40 | |
It's brave to put pig sweetbreads on a menu for this competition. | 0:11:40 | 0:11:44 | |
Without doubt. The more I think about it, goosebumps. It's a gamble. | 0:11:44 | 0:11:47 | |
When somebody says, "I need a sick bag", | 0:11:47 | 0:11:49 | |
then you start asking questions, you start doubting yourself. | 0:11:49 | 0:11:52 | |
I really believe in it. I think they're delicious. | 0:11:52 | 0:11:54 | |
'Niall McKenna's dish of the pig sweetbread,' | 0:11:54 | 0:11:56 | |
has he just done the usual cheffy "impress myself" thing? | 0:11:56 | 0:12:00 | |
I'd eat it. But would anyone else? | 0:12:00 | 0:12:03 | |
'The biggest risk is people's perception of pig sweetbreads.' | 0:12:03 | 0:12:07 | |
That's where I'm pushing it, something different. I've got faith in it, I love it. | 0:12:07 | 0:12:11 | |
Niall McKenna is no stranger to Great British Menu. | 0:12:13 | 0:12:17 | |
His exquisite lavender dessert was served up | 0:12:17 | 0:12:19 | |
to his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales two years ago. | 0:12:19 | 0:12:23 | |
'I got through to the final four, I did the banquet - totally different brief, | 0:12:23 | 0:12:27 | |
'it was all about sourcing locally.' | 0:12:27 | 0:12:29 | |
This year it's totally wide open. But at the same time I'm going back | 0:12:29 | 0:12:32 | |
to the local produce from Northern Ireland, trying to find the best. | 0:12:32 | 0:12:35 | |
Niall's individual idea of using pig sweetbreads | 0:12:36 | 0:12:39 | |
brought him to Pheasants Hill Farm in Downpatrick, County Down. | 0:12:39 | 0:12:43 | |
Home to rare breed pig farmer Alan Bailey, who like Niall, | 0:12:43 | 0:12:47 | |
considers pig sweetbreads a luxury. | 0:12:47 | 0:12:50 | |
They are a special thing - | 0:12:50 | 0:12:52 | |
you don't get these cuts on a supermarket shelf. | 0:12:52 | 0:12:54 | |
And it's lovely to see them being thought about and used. | 0:12:54 | 0:12:58 | |
And these aren't just any pigs, they're rare breed Tamworths, | 0:12:58 | 0:13:01 | |
that are well suited to this year's brief. | 0:13:01 | 0:13:03 | |
The Tamworth is very athletic - if it wanted to race now, | 0:13:03 | 0:13:08 | |
and it took off there, you or I wouldn't be anywhere near it. | 0:13:08 | 0:13:11 | |
It is the athlete of the pig world to me. | 0:13:11 | 0:13:13 | |
'The idea of one of the dishes being served at the Olympic feast, | 0:13:13 | 0:13:17 | |
'I would be so proud. The Olympic spirit is, | 0:13:17 | 0:13:19 | |
you sacrifice everything else. | 0:13:19 | 0:13:21 | |
'Chefs are similar because you have to sacrifice your time, | 0:13:21 | 0:13:24 | |
'your family life. Guilt kicks in.' | 0:13:24 | 0:13:26 | |
Sometimes I get home in the afternoon to see Conrad, just as I'm about to leave, | 0:13:26 | 0:13:30 | |
he says "Daddy, you're not going to work" and the tears start. | 0:13:30 | 0:13:32 | |
The heartstrings start going. | 0:13:32 | 0:13:34 | |
Oh my goodness, that's Olympian food. Absolutely beautiful. | 0:13:37 | 0:13:41 | |
'This whole event is for myself and my family,' | 0:13:41 | 0:13:43 | |
at no point do I want to let them down, they've never let me down. | 0:13:43 | 0:13:47 | |
Niall is now sieving a truffle emulsion to go with his controversial pig sweetbreads. | 0:13:50 | 0:13:55 | |
So these are pig sweetbreads you're using, Niall? | 0:13:55 | 0:13:58 | |
-Have you used them before? -I've used them before. | 0:13:58 | 0:14:00 | |
But it's a rarity, they are extremely hard to get your hands on. | 0:14:00 | 0:14:03 | |
It has to be pure, you can't go out and get any pig sweetbreads, | 0:14:03 | 0:14:06 | |
it's all about the best quality pork you can get. | 0:14:06 | 0:14:08 | |
'Niall might be taking a risk, | 0:14:08 | 0:14:10 | |
'sweetbreads isn't everybody's cup of tea, it's not the most commercial thing,' | 0:14:10 | 0:14:14 | |
but you wouldn't be involved with Great British Menu if you didn't take risks, | 0:14:14 | 0:14:18 | |
and you have to take risks, you can't play too safe or you get sent home packing. | 0:14:18 | 0:14:21 | |
Returning champion Chris Fearon is taking a gamble with his pigeon tagine | 0:14:21 | 0:14:26 | |
and spicy pigeon rolls. | 0:14:26 | 0:14:28 | |
How are you doing, Chris? | 0:14:31 | 0:14:32 | |
Nervous, yeah, nervous. | 0:14:32 | 0:14:35 | |
This is your filling for the pastilla. | 0:14:35 | 0:14:38 | |
Yeah, the pastilla thing. I'm trying to go not too heavy on the spicing. | 0:14:38 | 0:14:42 | |
I'm going to keep adding argan oil, I don't want to put too much in, cos I can't take it away. | 0:14:43 | 0:14:48 | |
There's a lot of complex flavours going on there. | 0:14:48 | 0:14:50 | |
This is going to be the breaking of me, trying to get a boy | 0:14:50 | 0:14:53 | |
from Belfast to understand North African flavours, it's a hard thing. | 0:14:53 | 0:14:57 | |
'Chris is using a lot of spices,' | 0:14:57 | 0:14:59 | |
which he seems slightly uncomfortable with, | 0:14:59 | 0:15:02 | |
and then there's that argan oil - | 0:15:02 | 0:15:05 | |
'a small amount in the wrong hands is lethal.' | 0:15:05 | 0:15:09 | |
Is there enough research being done on that dish | 0:15:09 | 0:15:12 | |
to make Chris a true champion? | 0:15:12 | 0:15:15 | |
So Chris, after this first course, | 0:15:15 | 0:15:17 | |
and this is the one you won on last year, | 0:15:17 | 0:15:19 | |
does that give you added pressure to compete with that? | 0:15:19 | 0:15:22 | |
No, all I want to do is come here and cook the best I can do, | 0:15:22 | 0:15:26 | |
that's all you can do. | 0:15:26 | 0:15:28 | |
'The whole experience of winning last year' | 0:15:28 | 0:15:30 | |
was fantastic, I'm still buzzing. | 0:15:30 | 0:15:33 | |
And I'm hungry for it, I really want to be there again, you know. | 0:15:33 | 0:15:36 | |
Chris Fearon was the surprise winner last year, | 0:15:36 | 0:15:39 | |
he has no classical training and has never worked in a Michelin-starred kitchen, | 0:15:39 | 0:15:43 | |
so when he received this year's challenge, he had doubts. | 0:15:43 | 0:15:46 | |
Going into the challenge, I felt completely out of my depth. | 0:15:46 | 0:15:49 | |
It's about pushing yourself, breaking boundaries, which isn't my thing. | 0:15:49 | 0:15:53 | |
It'll be one of the hardest things I have done in my career yet. | 0:15:53 | 0:15:56 | |
To get out of his comfort zone, Chris has decided to dabble | 0:15:56 | 0:15:59 | |
in molecular gastronomy, and he has the shopping list to prove it. | 0:15:59 | 0:16:03 | |
-Xanthan gum? -Yes. -Agar-agar? -Yes. -Brilliant. | 0:16:03 | 0:16:07 | |
-Potassium. -In tablet form. -Fantastic. | 0:16:07 | 0:16:09 | |
How about some soya lecithin? | 0:16:09 | 0:16:11 | |
-Soya lecithin, yes, we have. -Fantastic, this is brilliant. | 0:16:11 | 0:16:14 | |
'I think it's important to move with the times, | 0:16:14 | 0:16:17 | |
'and this whole molecular madness that's going on, | 0:16:17 | 0:16:20 | |
'you have to dip your fingers into it' | 0:16:20 | 0:16:22 | |
to a certain extent, which I'm going to do, | 0:16:22 | 0:16:24 | |
but it's not going to be the most serious focal talking point of any of my dishes. | 0:16:24 | 0:16:28 | |
I'm going to play about with the presentation a lot, | 0:16:28 | 0:16:31 | |
I'm playing about with different props like last time, | 0:16:31 | 0:16:33 | |
and be quite quirky on the eye when you see them. | 0:16:33 | 0:16:36 | |
-I'm looking for a fish tank pump. -Are you wanting to blow air in, | 0:16:36 | 0:16:40 | |
or are you wanting to circulate a liquid round? | 0:16:40 | 0:16:44 | |
We're going to play about with it. | 0:16:44 | 0:16:45 | |
'Last year winning the competition, I was very proud indeed.' | 0:16:45 | 0:16:49 | |
I would say it changed my life. Yeah, it did. | 0:16:49 | 0:16:52 | |
'It put me on the map, and straight after I got married. With that in mind,' | 0:16:52 | 0:16:55 | |
I want to win this time again. | 0:16:55 | 0:16:57 | |
It would be nice for my new wife, | 0:16:57 | 0:16:59 | |
it would be nice to give something back to her. | 0:16:59 | 0:17:01 | |
I would be over the moon if he won again. | 0:17:01 | 0:17:05 | |
He has been thinking about it a lot. | 0:17:05 | 0:17:08 | |
It definitely took up a lot of conversation time on our honeymoon! | 0:17:08 | 0:17:11 | |
Chris Fearon's preparing the pigeon breast for his quirky pigeon tagine. | 0:17:11 | 0:17:17 | |
-Come and taste this pigeon. -It looks beautiful. | 0:17:17 | 0:17:20 | |
I think it's important to hit the ground running, | 0:17:21 | 0:17:23 | |
get a good score today, get confidence up for the rest of the week. | 0:17:23 | 0:17:26 | |
'Pigeons are so lean, they can be so easily overcooked, | 0:17:26 | 0:17:29 | |
'30 seconds from being perfect' | 0:17:29 | 0:17:31 | |
to being absolutely destroyed, so that could be a big problem for him. | 0:17:31 | 0:17:35 | |
But Chris Bell is having difficulties of his own. | 0:17:35 | 0:17:39 | |
-Three minutes. -BLEEP. | 0:17:41 | 0:17:43 | |
'We all know from last year,' | 0:17:43 | 0:17:45 | |
those nerves get to Chris Bell, things start to crash. | 0:17:45 | 0:17:48 | |
'Let's hope he stays steady and delivers some fantastic food.' | 0:17:48 | 0:17:53 | |
-Having trouble with that jar, Chris? -I am. -Do you want me to help you? | 0:17:53 | 0:17:56 | |
-See if you can get it? -No. | 0:17:56 | 0:17:58 | |
It's completely jarred. | 0:17:58 | 0:18:00 | |
Niall, see if you can open that jar for him, will you? | 0:18:00 | 0:18:03 | |
This one here? | 0:18:03 | 0:18:04 | |
There it is. Gold medal! | 0:18:08 | 0:18:10 | |
Niall's first to plate up. | 0:18:12 | 0:18:14 | |
He's poaching his duck eggs in oil in a water bath - an unusual technique. | 0:18:14 | 0:18:18 | |
And with only minutes left on the clock, | 0:18:18 | 0:18:20 | |
he's facing a bit of a disaster. | 0:18:20 | 0:18:22 | |
I think there's something wrong with the water bath, | 0:18:22 | 0:18:24 | |
it's just not coming up to temperature. | 0:18:24 | 0:18:26 | |
It needs to be up at 60 but it's just not working at 60. | 0:18:26 | 0:18:29 | |
As I'm short for time I'll bring it up gently in this and really stand over it now. | 0:18:29 | 0:18:32 | |
I don't know what's going on, it's totally stitched me up here. | 0:18:32 | 0:18:35 | |
I'm doing all pan work now. | 0:18:35 | 0:18:36 | |
Are you on time, then? | 0:18:36 | 0:18:38 | |
I will be on time but now I've put myself under pressure | 0:18:38 | 0:18:40 | |
so looking at the clock, I have to start moving here now. | 0:18:40 | 0:18:43 | |
With the clock ticking, he quickly sautes his poached sweetbreads, | 0:18:43 | 0:18:46 | |
deep fries the crispy ones and starts plating up. | 0:18:46 | 0:18:49 | |
He adds layers of baked onion, | 0:18:49 | 0:18:51 | |
dots of truffle emulsion, adds his rescued duck eggs and finishes | 0:18:51 | 0:18:55 | |
his plate with peppery water cress and shavings of black truffle. | 0:18:55 | 0:19:00 | |
Chef. | 0:19:03 | 0:19:04 | |
You had a problem with the egg? | 0:19:06 | 0:19:08 | |
Yeah, a slight problem with the water bath. | 0:19:08 | 0:19:10 | |
The temperature didn't come up to heat on time so I had to bring it on quicker | 0:19:10 | 0:19:13 | |
or I would've been 15 minutes late. It put me under pressure, | 0:19:13 | 0:19:16 | |
-it's just the way it is, you have to adapt. -Let's eat it before it gets cold. | 0:19:16 | 0:19:19 | |
Enjoy, guys. Thank you. | 0:19:19 | 0:19:22 | |
Will Richard find Niall's pig sweetbreads distinctive enough | 0:19:22 | 0:19:25 | |
for our glittering Olympic guest list? | 0:19:25 | 0:19:27 | |
I want to see what this egg's like. | 0:19:27 | 0:19:29 | |
Yeah, I think it's cooked just about right. | 0:19:29 | 0:19:33 | |
Considering the problems he had. | 0:19:33 | 0:19:35 | |
The egg yolk, maybe less cooking. | 0:19:35 | 0:19:37 | |
The bottom of it isn't 100%, | 0:19:37 | 0:19:39 | |
but if it's not cooked then you don't get the flavour. | 0:19:39 | 0:19:42 | |
I think it has to be cooked to get the richness of the egg. | 0:19:42 | 0:19:45 | |
-Do you think it needs a bit of salt? -No. | 0:19:45 | 0:19:47 | |
-A bit more salt. -Definitely. | 0:19:47 | 0:19:49 | |
Are you happy with the texture of the cooked pig sweetbread? | 0:19:49 | 0:19:52 | |
-I think the sweetbreads are absolutely spot-on. -A huge risk. | 0:19:52 | 0:19:55 | |
Massive. I realise now it is a massive risk, huge risk. | 0:19:55 | 0:19:58 | |
Athletes, some of whom might not be the biggest of foodies... | 0:19:58 | 0:20:01 | |
is sweetbreads what they want to sit down and eat? | 0:20:01 | 0:20:04 | |
Yeah. It's not the most appealing thing to a lot of people. | 0:20:04 | 0:20:06 | |
-What boundaries were you pushing? -The truffle, the textures, | 0:20:06 | 0:20:09 | |
the sweetbread itself. | 0:20:09 | 0:20:10 | |
As you said, you'd never seen it on a menu before. | 0:20:10 | 0:20:13 | |
It all comes together. | 0:20:13 | 0:20:14 | |
I think it could've done with a little bit more water cress. | 0:20:14 | 0:20:17 | |
-More salad, less meat. -Yeah. | 0:20:17 | 0:20:19 | |
You think you'll do well with this dish? | 0:20:19 | 0:20:20 | |
Now the doubts are in my head - have I done the right thing? | 0:20:20 | 0:20:23 | |
Have I gone too simple? | 0:20:23 | 0:20:24 | |
Is it too far out there? | 0:20:24 | 0:20:25 | |
But to me it's the flavours, the flavours work so well. | 0:20:25 | 0:20:28 | |
I think it's a strong dish. | 0:20:28 | 0:20:29 | |
I believe in it. | 0:20:29 | 0:20:30 | |
There you have it, first course in. | 0:20:32 | 0:20:34 | |
Feedback from Richard... I haven't got a clue. | 0:20:34 | 0:20:37 | |
Did like it? Didn't he like it? | 0:20:37 | 0:20:39 | |
I don't know. Direct questions... | 0:20:39 | 0:20:41 | |
but yeah, I'm second guessing myself totally now. | 0:20:41 | 0:20:44 | |
Next to plate up is Chris Fearon. | 0:20:44 | 0:20:47 | |
He quickly pan-fries his pigeon breast - | 0:20:47 | 0:20:50 | |
a delicate meat that needs precision cooking - then carefully fills | 0:20:50 | 0:20:54 | |
his clay pigeon tagines with broth, fennel and slices of pigeon breast. | 0:20:54 | 0:20:58 | |
-Is that the pucks from the clay pigeon shot, Chris? -Yeah. | 0:20:58 | 0:21:01 | |
Very clever, very good. | 0:21:01 | 0:21:03 | |
His props are absolutely beautiful looking | 0:21:03 | 0:21:05 | |
but it'll be interesting to see how it tastes. | 0:21:05 | 0:21:08 | |
To finish his tagines he adds some pea shoots before closing it up | 0:21:08 | 0:21:11 | |
and adding it to his special gunshot plate with his spicy | 0:21:11 | 0:21:15 | |
pigeon rolls in an exploded shotgun cartridge on the side. | 0:21:15 | 0:21:18 | |
Happy? | 0:21:28 | 0:21:29 | |
I am happy, yeah. | 0:21:29 | 0:21:30 | |
It looks unique. | 0:21:30 | 0:21:32 | |
Is it good enough to call groundbreaking? | 0:21:32 | 0:21:34 | |
-Let's go taste it. -OK. | 0:21:34 | 0:21:36 | |
What will Richard make of Chris' gimmicky clay pigeon shoot? | 0:21:38 | 0:21:42 | |
Will the food live up to the daring presentation? | 0:21:42 | 0:21:44 | |
He's done it again, presentation. It's looking very different. | 0:21:44 | 0:21:47 | |
-It looks fun. -It does, it's fun. That's what it's all about. | 0:21:47 | 0:21:49 | |
Happy with the cooking of the pigeon? | 0:21:49 | 0:21:52 | |
It maybe could've done a wee bit longer, Chef. | 0:21:52 | 0:21:55 | |
Maybe not everybody's cup of tea that rare. | 0:21:55 | 0:21:57 | |
The pigeon is cooked spot-on. | 0:21:59 | 0:22:01 | |
Are you happy with the quantity of spicing in the pigeon and the pastilla? | 0:22:07 | 0:22:12 | |
It's not overly poor but there's definitely room to improve on it, Chef. | 0:22:12 | 0:22:16 | |
-The spices are not overpowering. -No. | 0:22:16 | 0:22:19 | |
They're still lingering in my mouth but not sickening, not overpowering. | 0:22:19 | 0:22:23 | |
-And the argan oil? -Argan oil, there's a little bit too much in there. | 0:22:23 | 0:22:26 | |
I got a bit carried away with it, I think. | 0:22:26 | 0:22:28 | |
Do you think it's groundbreaking? | 0:22:28 | 0:22:30 | |
I think its presentation is groundbreaking, | 0:22:30 | 0:22:32 | |
but some of the flavours - been done before. | 0:22:32 | 0:22:34 | |
-Do you think that this is groundbreaking? -For me, it's not. | 0:22:34 | 0:22:37 | |
It's a pigeon tagine that's been cooked a million times. | 0:22:37 | 0:22:40 | |
I think the presentation's where he's moved it forward, maybe? | 0:22:40 | 0:22:45 | |
Is this an Olympic winner? | 0:22:45 | 0:22:46 | |
Being refined a little bit, I think it could be there. | 0:22:46 | 0:22:49 | |
It's got potential. | 0:22:49 | 0:22:50 | |
Worried by that? | 0:22:50 | 0:22:51 | |
Yeah. Overall it's a really good dish. Really good. | 0:22:51 | 0:22:54 | |
And I am worried, personally worried big time. | 0:22:54 | 0:22:57 | |
I sort of know that the spicing would've been a big thing today, | 0:22:57 | 0:23:02 | |
a big risk, you know? | 0:23:02 | 0:23:04 | |
And it's very hard to read Richard, what he really thinks. | 0:23:04 | 0:23:08 | |
He could be playing mind tricks with me, | 0:23:08 | 0:23:10 | |
but I sort of think that I could've done it a wee bit more justice. | 0:23:10 | 0:23:13 | |
Last to plate up is Chris Bell. | 0:23:14 | 0:23:16 | |
He starts off with a dash of rhubarb puree then adds his rhubarb jelly. | 0:23:16 | 0:23:20 | |
There's a lot going on the dish. | 0:23:20 | 0:23:22 | |
There's maybe too much going on the dish. | 0:23:22 | 0:23:24 | |
He continues by adding a walnut and a sage leaf | 0:23:24 | 0:23:26 | |
before getting his rabbit loin, heart and liver on to fry. | 0:23:26 | 0:23:30 | |
Then adds his many elements to the plate, with some dandelion leaves | 0:23:30 | 0:23:34 | |
for garnish and nervously serves his savoury tea and biscuits. | 0:23:34 | 0:23:37 | |
-TEA CUP RATTLES -God! | 0:23:37 | 0:23:39 | |
It's OK, it's OK, you're doing great. | 0:23:39 | 0:23:41 | |
There we go - salad of rabbit and rhubarb with tea and biscuits. | 0:23:41 | 0:23:45 | |
Enough to get you the gold podium? | 0:23:45 | 0:23:46 | |
I think it looks OK, the flavours work, but proof of the pudding... | 0:23:46 | 0:23:51 | |
Come on, let's eat it quick when it's hot, yeah? I'll take the tea. | 0:23:51 | 0:23:54 | |
Will Chris' daring rabbit and rhubarb dish | 0:23:55 | 0:23:58 | |
be the opening ceremony Richard is looking for? | 0:23:58 | 0:24:00 | |
-Are you happy with the combination of rabbit and rhubarb? -I like it. | 0:24:00 | 0:24:04 | |
I think they complement each other very well. | 0:24:04 | 0:24:06 | |
-I think the broth's bang on. -I'm going to try this as a tea. -It's not too gingery. | 0:24:06 | 0:24:09 | |
-Oh, nice flavour there. -The wee rhubarb... | 0:24:16 | 0:24:19 | |
Oh, that's delicious. | 0:24:19 | 0:24:20 | |
That is absolutely beautiful, the rhubarb, isn't it? | 0:24:20 | 0:24:24 | |
Are you happy with the biscuit? | 0:24:24 | 0:24:26 | |
I don't think they're awful, I think they're a bit bland. | 0:24:26 | 0:24:28 | |
And on top of the rabbit? | 0:24:28 | 0:24:30 | |
Just a little bit of pickled rhubarb but just left it a wee bit crunchy. | 0:24:30 | 0:24:34 | |
The wee bit of pickled rhubarb is quite sharp. | 0:24:36 | 0:24:39 | |
-A bit too sharp? -Yeah, maybe a wee bit too sharp. | 0:24:39 | 0:24:41 | |
A lot of techniques going on here. | 0:24:41 | 0:24:43 | |
-I -think that's what the brief asks for. | 0:24:43 | 0:24:45 | |
Groundbreaking, for me, is something that's not thrown around every restaurant in Britain | 0:24:45 | 0:24:50 | |
and I don't think this is. | 0:24:50 | 0:24:51 | |
It is different. It's pushing the boundaries and it's within the brief, | 0:24:51 | 0:24:54 | |
definitely within the brief. | 0:24:54 | 0:24:55 | |
-Are you a gold medal winner in this dish? -I don't know. | 0:24:55 | 0:24:59 | |
-Tough competition. -Very. | 0:24:59 | 0:25:00 | |
I'm worried by it. | 0:25:00 | 0:25:02 | |
Being honest, both your dishes I'm totally worried by. | 0:25:02 | 0:25:04 | |
Well, lad, how'd you get on? | 0:25:04 | 0:25:06 | |
-Who knows? -Well done. -Nice, very nice. | 0:25:06 | 0:25:08 | |
-You can only hope now. -It's down to the big man. | 0:25:08 | 0:25:11 | |
It is. You know? | 0:25:11 | 0:25:12 | |
I know how nervous I am, what about you two? | 0:25:12 | 0:25:14 | |
The feedback I got from Richard put doubt in my mind. | 0:25:14 | 0:25:16 | |
This is the hard part now, just waiting. | 0:25:16 | 0:25:18 | |
And a lot of stuff, a lot of doubt going through your head. It's just mind games now. | 0:25:18 | 0:25:22 | |
So who will be in pole position after day one? | 0:25:25 | 0:25:28 | |
Niall, your pig sweetbreads with the black truffle emulsion | 0:25:37 | 0:25:41 | |
and the baked onion... | 0:25:41 | 0:25:43 | |
The truffle emulsion was delicious. | 0:25:44 | 0:25:47 | |
And you managed to rescue your egg, | 0:25:47 | 0:25:50 | |
even though the bottom got overcooked, | 0:25:50 | 0:25:52 | |
but it didn't destroy the dish. | 0:25:52 | 0:25:54 | |
But... | 0:25:54 | 0:25:56 | |
..the poached sweetbread, | 0:25:57 | 0:25:59 | |
they looked quite anaemic... | 0:25:59 | 0:26:01 | |
..quite unappetising. | 0:26:02 | 0:26:04 | |
I'm not too sure about them being right for this banquet. | 0:26:04 | 0:26:07 | |
Chris Fearon. | 0:26:09 | 0:26:10 | |
Your clay pigeon shoot, I think was a groundbreaking concept. | 0:26:10 | 0:26:15 | |
You really tried hard and you pushed yourself. | 0:26:15 | 0:26:18 | |
It looked good visually, but... | 0:26:20 | 0:26:22 | |
the pigeon was undercooked and under spiced. | 0:26:22 | 0:26:26 | |
The pastilla, I think could have done with a little bit more filling | 0:26:28 | 0:26:32 | |
and more spice as well. | 0:26:32 | 0:26:34 | |
-Too much of that argan oil. -Yeah. | 0:26:34 | 0:26:35 | |
It's quite lethal. | 0:26:37 | 0:26:39 | |
Chris Bell. Your rabbit with black pudding and rhubarb salad, | 0:26:39 | 0:26:43 | |
and of course, not forgetting your tea and biscuits. | 0:26:43 | 0:26:46 | |
I didn't like the biscuit. | 0:26:46 | 0:26:48 | |
No. | 0:26:48 | 0:26:49 | |
But the rabbit was moist - cooked perfect. | 0:26:49 | 0:26:54 | |
An unusual combination of flavours, | 0:26:54 | 0:26:57 | |
all carried very nicely with one another. | 0:26:57 | 0:27:00 | |
It was an exceptional dish. | 0:27:00 | 0:27:02 | |
Niall, for your pig sweetbread dish, I'm giving you... | 0:27:04 | 0:27:09 | |
..7/10. | 0:27:12 | 0:27:13 | |
Chris Fearon, for your clay pigeon shoot, I'm giving you... | 0:27:17 | 0:27:22 | |
..6/10. | 0:27:25 | 0:27:27 | |
Chris Bell, for your rabbit, tea and biscuit, I'm giving you... | 0:27:29 | 0:27:33 | |
..9/10. | 0:27:37 | 0:27:39 | |
-Congratulations, everybody. -Thank you very much. | 0:27:40 | 0:27:42 | |
-Well done, Chris Bell. -Thanks. | 0:27:42 | 0:27:44 | |
So Chris Bell's first out of the blocks with an impressive nine. | 0:27:49 | 0:27:53 | |
Niall's a couple of points behind with a respectable seven, | 0:27:53 | 0:27:56 | |
and Chris Fearon's chasing at his heels with just six. | 0:27:56 | 0:27:59 | |
I'm absolutely over the moon, couldn't be happier. | 0:27:59 | 0:28:02 | |
Have to pick myself up now and be positive going into tomorrow. | 0:28:02 | 0:28:05 | |
Try to nail it, try to get a good score and get back on my feet. | 0:28:05 | 0:28:08 | |
I'm happy cos that means I'm in the middle ground | 0:28:08 | 0:28:11 | |
but at the same time you want to come first. | 0:28:11 | 0:28:14 | |
Tomorrow it's the fish course | 0:28:14 | 0:28:15 | |
and it's all proving too much for last year's champion Chris Fearon. | 0:28:15 | 0:28:20 | |
I'm really concentrating here. I'm just trying to push myself a bit more. | 0:28:20 | 0:28:23 | |
-Feeling under a bit of pressure today? -Big time. | 0:28:23 | 0:28:26 | |
There's a bit of nerves creeping in. Let's have a bit of chat outside. | 0:28:26 | 0:28:29 | |
-Are you OK? -Yeah, I just don't want to go home. -Calm, calm, calm down. | 0:28:29 | 0:28:32 | |
Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd | 0:28:51 | 0:28:54 |