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Northern Ireland Starter

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LineFromTo

-Am I irritating you yet, lad?

-You are, yeah.

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On Great British Menu, the nation's top chefs are striving to produce

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awe-inspiring food

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for a magnificent Olympic feast.

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There have been highs...

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CHEERING

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A ten - phew!

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..and lows...

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Fire!

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Absolutely awful. It's a tragedy.

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..and the veteran chefs are as outspoken as ever...

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It's quite remarkable. I mean they really are beasts unleashed in there.

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For me, I'm not sure that actually quite works.

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This week, fighting it out to represent Northern Ireland

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is former champion Niall McKenna...

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I've been to the banquet before. I want to get there again.

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..last year's Chris Fearon...

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'I'm back here again. Round two.'

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Ding ding. I want to win again.

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..and the chef he beat - Chris Bell.

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I'm determined to get to the banquet this year and it's going to take something pretty good to stop me.

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And former champion Niall's in trouble from the start.

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I need a sick bag.

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There's something wrong with the water bath.

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I don't know what's going on here.

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It's totally stitched me up here. Oh no.

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This year, the chefs have had to come up with groundbreaking menus

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that push boundaries,

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like the athletes at the London 2012 games.

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Be confident with it.

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The chefs have sought inspiration from record-breaking Olympians.

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You don't want to make no mistakes.

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And gone that extra mile to ensure their dishes

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stand out from the crowd.

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ALL: Oh, wow!

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Their gold medal -

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the chance to cook for our world-class Olympians

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and the friends and families who have cheered them on every step of the way.

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You've got to raise the bar.

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You have to believe there's a level beyond where we are.

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But first, they have to impress a veteran of the competition

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who will taste and score their dishes.

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This week for Northern Ireland,

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it's one of the most feared chefs in Great British Menu's history -

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Richard Corrigan.

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The work they need to put into the food

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for this banquet is massive.

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They really need to impress.

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Come Thursday, he'll be sending the two highest scoring chefs

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through to the judges.

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If I was first to get sent home, I'd be absolutely gutted.

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That's my worst fear coming back this year -

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to crash and burn first, after doing so well last year. Heartbreaking.

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Scallops, beef and a venison.

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First up is award-winning Chris Bell - head chef

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at the River restaurant in Ballymena, Co. Antrim...

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-Service!

-.. whose classical cooking with a modern twist

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failed to make it over the finishing line last year.

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I was gutted last year when I got pipped at the post.

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'I've got to stop playing it safe and get out of my comfort zone'

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I know that this year, that's what it's going to take and I'll do that.

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-Chris!

-How are you?

-Welcome back.

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-Thank you very much.

-How are you doing this time?

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Not so bad. Bit nervous.

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What's your menu this year?

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OK, starter course for me today is a salad of rabbit,

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rhubarb and black pudding with tea and ginger biscuits.

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The rabbit,

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I'm going to cook it three or four different ways,

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I'm going to make dumplings from the legs, poach the loins,

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make a consomme from the bones, serve it in the teapot,

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serving rabbit dumplings in the cup, with tea and ginger biscuits on the side.

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Rhubarb and rabbit - it's an unusual combination.

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-I really believe it works.

-What's groundbreaking about this recipe?

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I'm going to make some jelly from the rhubarb,

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use some sodium amalgamate and chloride

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and do some caviar to go in the consomme.

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You've brought your chemist's box with you, that's good. Very now.

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-Is this good enough?

-I believe it is.

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You believe, come on!

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-You believed last year.

-I know.

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-Are you good enough this year?

-Definitely!

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Chris Bell's kick-starting his Olympic menu

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with a daring rabbit and rhubarb dish,

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complete with quirky rabbit tea

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and savoury ginger biscuits.

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The risks are enormous.

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He has to make a rabbit tea,

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he has to make a rhubarb jelly -

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there's so much going on.

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I'm even nervous for him. Can he even get it up on time?

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Right guys, two crab there, please, two plaice.

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Next up is former dessert course champion Niall McKenna

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chef proprietor of James Street South in Belfast,

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renowned for its classic French cuisine.

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Service here, please.

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He's returning to the competition after a year off,

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hoping for a repeat performance with a simple menu

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that lets his ingredients do the talking.

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I've been to the final before. The pressure is on to do it again.

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This time I'm going totally out of my comfort zone.

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I'll push the boundaries, which is the whole Olympic feel.

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At the end of the day, I'm desperate to win.

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-Niall, how are you?

-Not bad, chef.

-Welcome.

-Thank you.

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-You didn't come last year?

-No, had a baby.

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This year I'm here to win, so... Exciting.

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So the brief this year. You've studied it carefully?

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Big-time. This year, I'm starting off with pig sweetbreads

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served with truffle-baked onion and a duck egg.

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The duck egg's cooked gently in oil just to get the yolk with it.

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So it's a rich dish, a very simple dish.

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I think the flavours are a brilliant combination. Good produce from Northern Ireland.

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Tamworth pig.

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I don't think I've never seen pig sweetbread on a menu.

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-And probably for good reason.

-Really? To me, the whole brief is, it's groundbreaking.

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It's something different. And it is definitely a gamble.

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And so it's one of those dishes that will work or it won't.

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I need a sick bag.

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Thanks, Richard(!)

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Niall's taking a huge risk,

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serving unusual pig sweetbreads with pungent truffle.

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Pig sweetbreads - it's a very cheffy thing to do.

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But where does it fit in this competition?

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Last up is returning champion Chris Fearon,

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self-taught head chef of Deanes at Queens in Belfast,

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who last year saw off far more experienced chefs

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with his playful chicken in a bag starter.

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I got a few raised eyebrows last year when I came into it with the sort of stuff I came across with.

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It's going to be sort of similar this year.

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I'm going in guns blazing. Yeah, I want to surprise a few people.

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But he needs to get past Richard Corrigan first,

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who, in last year's final, showed him no mercy.

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If anything, it has got worse.

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You should have listened to me. There was a bin beside you.

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-That's where it belonged.

-Ouch!

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-Hello Richard.

-Chris, how are you?

-Good to see you.

-Do you mean that?

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-Yes, of course.

-Are you sure?

-Yes.

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-What have you got for me today?

-The dish is Clay Pigeon Shoot.

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I suppose it's like a tagine of pigeon with some blood orange.

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It's got some pea shoots into it. And nice armagnac spices.

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A little bit of argan oil and fennel. I'm going to break the leg down off the bird.

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Confit it down really slowly, roll it in spring roll pastry.

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Recreate my version of a pastilla.

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-Explain to me about the argan oil?

-It's pretty awful, actually.

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There's a few goats running about in the hills in Morocco, eating the fruit of the tree.

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When they pass it through, the locals pick out the kernels of the fruit and they press that to make an oil.

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So it's been passed through an animal before you get it.

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-I don't use much of this oil in my kitchens!

-No?

-No!

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Neither do I! But for this dish, I think it suits it pretty well.

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-What's Olympian about it?

-I'm actually using real clay pigeons to recreate a tagine.

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Then I've got a plate made out of gun cartridges.

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-Groundbreaking?

-For me it is.

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-Under pressure?

-Yes.

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Chris Fearon is hoping his quirky presentation,

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using a playful take on a clay pigeon shoot

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and his daring use of spices, will give him the edge.

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Chris Fearon always brings something theatrical to this competition.

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But is it too theatrical?

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Has he put enough thought into this dish?

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I'm not too sure.

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The cooking is well underway in the kitchen.

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It might just be the first course, but every point counts.

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The chefs can't afford to make any mistakes, with Richard watching their every move.

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They need to stay calm and focused, and not lose their head.

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Well boys, how do youse feel about being up against big Richard again?

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-Full of compliments, isn't he?

-He gave you a bit of a roasting.

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Yeah. Sickbag. That's straight off the mark, you know.

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-A good start to the day anyhow!

-A good bit of banter, boys. Do you no harm. Keep you sharp.

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Chris, I'm looking forward to your dish. The whole...

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the aspect of the shot and everything else.

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Well, that's my whole style going into this competition, to sort of think outside the box.

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I can't wait to taste it as well.

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Chris, how do you feel being back second year in a row now?

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You're probably the most hungry guy here. You want to prove something, you know?

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I'd love an opportunity that youse have had. That's why everybody is here, isn't it?

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'Chris got very close last time.

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'I think he'll be dying to get there. He will want to win.'

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If he nails the brief, he'll be hard to beat.

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-Chris, how is it going?

-Em, so far, so good, I think.

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I've spiced the rabbit loins up a little bit with the ham and leeks,

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-and some English mustard.

-That sounds good. Lots to go wrong?

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-Lots.

-That rabbit needs to be slightly pink.

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-Consomme or tea you're putting on?

-Yeah. I've got some brown chicken and brown rabbit stock.

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-And little jelly bowls?

-Yeah, I want to get rhubarb into the consomme

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without diluting the consomme.

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So, just doing this verification, dropping it in.

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Some people love it, some hate it. But it's just another technique.

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Chris Bell has gone very technical.

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These little jelly droplets. That tea or consomme...

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So much going on. Has he just overplayed everything?

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I hope my starter's good enough to win. There's quite a lot of technical components to the dish.

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I think it reflects this year's competition very well.

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Chris Bell's award-winning cooking fell at the final hurdle last year.

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But this year's Olympic brief is a whole new ball game.

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My strategy for this year is very much

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to try and use cooking techniques and flavour combinations

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that are a little bit different.

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They're just very unique to me, and not a carbon copy of something that's been done before.

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Chris has done his homework by trying out his Olympic starter

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on two of Northern Ireland's most influential food bloggers.

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-Tea and biscuits to go on the side.

-Fantastic.

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Anybody reading this on the menu, would have looked at you like you were crazy.

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My thinking with was to shock and surprise with each course, you know.

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Beautiful. Not what you're expecting on the palate. which is exciting - you're pushing the boundaries.

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It's a class dish. It looks fantastic, it tastes fantastic.

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I think it would be awesome to get a dish on the Olympic feast.

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I think there are similarities between what we do as chefs and what Olympians do.

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I mean, the sacrifices you make. You leave for work early in the morning.

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You come home maybe at midnight.

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I do leave my wife and my son sat at home by themselves.

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And if I can win this competition and make them proud,

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then it'll all seem a little bit more worth it.

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And Chris's family is 100% behind him.

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I'm proud of him every day for what he achieves every day.

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It's amazing what he does.

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Sorry, I'm filling up there. I don't know why!

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Chris is now making dumplings to go in his rabbit and rhubarb tea,

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a flavour combination that's causing quite a stir.

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Rhubarb and rabbit, I'm sure it'll taste beautiful,

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but it is one of those combinations you think, you know, very different.

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I think it sounds all right. It sounds nice.

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Maybe I'm wrong, I think it's a great combination.

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'Tea, rhubarb, rabbit - it's just a total jumble. I just don't know what he's doing.'

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So it's going to be interesting to see and taste.

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But Niall's got problems of his own in the form of Richard Corrigan,

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who's already made it clear he's not convinced by his choice of ingredients.

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-Niall, what are you doing with the...?

-I'm doing the sweetbreads.

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I've just poached them off. And now, I've just...

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Half of them I'm going to breadcrumb. And half of them I'm going to sautee in a little butter.

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It's brave to put pig sweetbreads on a menu for this competition.

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Without doubt. The more I think about it, goosebumps. It's a gamble.

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When somebody says, "I need a sick bag",

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then you start asking questions, you start doubting yourself.

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I really believe in it. I think they're delicious.

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'Niall McKenna's dish of the pig sweetbread,'

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has he just done the usual cheffy "impress myself" thing?

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I'd eat it. But would anyone else?

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'The biggest risk is people's perception of pig sweetbreads.'

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That's where I'm pushing it, something different. I've got faith in it, I love it.

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Niall McKenna is no stranger to Great British Menu.

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His exquisite lavender dessert was served up

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to his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales two years ago.

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'I got through to the final four, I did the banquet - totally different brief,

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'it was all about sourcing locally.'

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This year it's totally wide open. But at the same time I'm going back

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to the local produce from Northern Ireland, trying to find the best.

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Niall's individual idea of using pig sweetbreads

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brought him to Pheasants Hill Farm in Downpatrick, County Down.

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Home to rare breed pig farmer Alan Bailey, who like Niall,

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considers pig sweetbreads a luxury.

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They are a special thing -

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you don't get these cuts on a supermarket shelf.

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And it's lovely to see them being thought about and used.

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And these aren't just any pigs, they're rare breed Tamworths,

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that are well suited to this year's brief.

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The Tamworth is very athletic - if it wanted to race now,

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and it took off there, you or I wouldn't be anywhere near it.

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It is the athlete of the pig world to me.

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'The idea of one of the dishes being served at the Olympic feast,

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'I would be so proud. The Olympic spirit is,

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you sacrifice everything else.

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'Chefs are similar because you have to sacrifice your time,

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'your family life. Guilt kicks in.'

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Sometimes I get home in the afternoon to see Conrad, just as I'm about to leave,

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he says "Daddy, you're not going to work" and the tears start.

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The heartstrings start going.

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Oh my goodness, that's Olympian food. Absolutely beautiful.

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'This whole event is for myself and my family,'

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at no point do I want to let them down, they've never let me down.

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Niall is now sieving a truffle emulsion to go with his controversial pig sweetbreads.

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So these are pig sweetbreads you're using, Niall?

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-Have you used them before?

-I've used them before.

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But it's a rarity, they are extremely hard to get your hands on.

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It has to be pure, you can't go out and get any pig sweetbreads,

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it's all about the best quality pork you can get.

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'Niall might be taking a risk,

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'sweetbreads isn't everybody's cup of tea, it's not the most commercial thing,'

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but you wouldn't be involved with Great British Menu if you didn't take risks,

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and you have to take risks, you can't play too safe or you get sent home packing.

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Returning champion Chris Fearon is taking a gamble with his pigeon tagine

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and spicy pigeon rolls.

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How are you doing, Chris?

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Nervous, yeah, nervous.

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This is your filling for the pastilla.

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Yeah, the pastilla thing. I'm trying to go not too heavy on the spicing.

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I'm going to keep adding argan oil, I don't want to put too much in, cos I can't take it away.

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There's a lot of complex flavours going on there.

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This is going to be the breaking of me, trying to get a boy

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from Belfast to understand North African flavours, it's a hard thing.

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'Chris is using a lot of spices,'

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which he seems slightly uncomfortable with,

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and then there's that argan oil -

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'a small amount in the wrong hands is lethal.'

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Is there enough research being done on that dish

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to make Chris a true champion?

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So Chris, after this first course,

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and this is the one you won on last year,

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does that give you added pressure to compete with that?

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No, all I want to do is come here and cook the best I can do,

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that's all you can do.

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'The whole experience of winning last year'

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was fantastic, I'm still buzzing.

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And I'm hungry for it, I really want to be there again, you know.

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Chris Fearon was the surprise winner last year,

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he has no classical training and has never worked in a Michelin-starred kitchen,

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so when he received this year's challenge, he had doubts.

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Going into the challenge, I felt completely out of my depth.

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It's about pushing yourself, breaking boundaries, which isn't my thing.

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It'll be one of the hardest things I have done in my career yet.

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To get out of his comfort zone, Chris has decided to dabble

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in molecular gastronomy, and he has the shopping list to prove it.

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-Xanthan gum?

-Yes.

-Agar-agar?

-Yes.

-Brilliant.

0:16:030:16:07

-Potassium.

-In tablet form.

-Fantastic.

0:16:070:16:09

How about some soya lecithin?

0:16:090:16:11

-Soya lecithin, yes, we have.

-Fantastic, this is brilliant.

0:16:110:16:14

'I think it's important to move with the times,

0:16:140:16:17

'and this whole molecular madness that's going on,

0:16:170:16:20

'you have to dip your fingers into it'

0:16:200:16:22

to a certain extent, which I'm going to do,

0:16:220:16:24

but it's not going to be the most serious focal talking point of any of my dishes.

0:16:240:16:28

I'm going to play about with the presentation a lot,

0:16:280:16:31

I'm playing about with different props like last time,

0:16:310:16:33

and be quite quirky on the eye when you see them.

0:16:330:16:36

-I'm looking for a fish tank pump.

-Are you wanting to blow air in,

0:16:360:16:40

or are you wanting to circulate a liquid round?

0:16:400:16:44

We're going to play about with it.

0:16:440:16:45

'Last year winning the competition, I was very proud indeed.'

0:16:450:16:49

I would say it changed my life. Yeah, it did.

0:16:490:16:52

'It put me on the map, and straight after I got married. With that in mind,'

0:16:520:16:55

I want to win this time again.

0:16:550:16:57

It would be nice for my new wife,

0:16:570:16:59

it would be nice to give something back to her.

0:16:590:17:01

I would be over the moon if he won again.

0:17:010:17:05

He has been thinking about it a lot.

0:17:050:17:08

It definitely took up a lot of conversation time on our honeymoon!

0:17:080:17:11

Chris Fearon's preparing the pigeon breast for his quirky pigeon tagine.

0:17:110:17:17

-Come and taste this pigeon.

-It looks beautiful.

0:17:170:17:20

I think it's important to hit the ground running,

0:17:210:17:23

get a good score today, get confidence up for the rest of the week.

0:17:230:17:26

'Pigeons are so lean, they can be so easily overcooked,

0:17:260:17:29

'30 seconds from being perfect'

0:17:290:17:31

to being absolutely destroyed, so that could be a big problem for him.

0:17:310:17:35

But Chris Bell is having difficulties of his own.

0:17:350:17:39

-Three minutes.

-BLEEP.

0:17:410:17:43

'We all know from last year,'

0:17:430:17:45

those nerves get to Chris Bell, things start to crash.

0:17:450:17:48

'Let's hope he stays steady and delivers some fantastic food.'

0:17:480:17:53

-Having trouble with that jar, Chris?

-I am.

-Do you want me to help you?

0:17:530:17:56

-See if you can get it?

-No.

0:17:560:17:58

It's completely jarred.

0:17:580:18:00

Niall, see if you can open that jar for him, will you?

0:18:000:18:03

This one here?

0:18:030:18:04

There it is. Gold medal!

0:18:080:18:10

Niall's first to plate up.

0:18:120:18:14

He's poaching his duck eggs in oil in a water bath - an unusual technique.

0:18:140:18:18

And with only minutes left on the clock,

0:18:180:18:20

he's facing a bit of a disaster.

0:18:200:18:22

I think there's something wrong with the water bath,

0:18:220:18:24

it's just not coming up to temperature.

0:18:240:18:26

It needs to be up at 60 but it's just not working at 60.

0:18:260:18:29

As I'm short for time I'll bring it up gently in this and really stand over it now.

0:18:290:18:32

I don't know what's going on, it's totally stitched me up here.

0:18:320:18:35

I'm doing all pan work now.

0:18:350:18:36

Are you on time, then?

0:18:360:18:38

I will be on time but now I've put myself under pressure

0:18:380:18:40

so looking at the clock, I have to start moving here now.

0:18:400:18:43

With the clock ticking, he quickly sautes his poached sweetbreads,

0:18:430:18:46

deep fries the crispy ones and starts plating up.

0:18:460:18:49

He adds layers of baked onion,

0:18:490:18:51

dots of truffle emulsion, adds his rescued duck eggs and finishes

0:18:510:18:55

his plate with peppery water cress and shavings of black truffle.

0:18:550:19:00

Chef.

0:19:030:19:04

You had a problem with the egg?

0:19:060:19:08

Yeah, a slight problem with the water bath.

0:19:080:19:10

The temperature didn't come up to heat on time so I had to bring it on quicker

0:19:100:19:13

or I would've been 15 minutes late. It put me under pressure,

0:19:130:19:16

-it's just the way it is, you have to adapt.

-Let's eat it before it gets cold.

0:19:160:19:19

Enjoy, guys. Thank you.

0:19:190:19:22

Will Richard find Niall's pig sweetbreads distinctive enough

0:19:220:19:25

for our glittering Olympic guest list?

0:19:250:19:27

I want to see what this egg's like.

0:19:270:19:29

Yeah, I think it's cooked just about right.

0:19:290:19:33

Considering the problems he had.

0:19:330:19:35

The egg yolk, maybe less cooking.

0:19:350:19:37

The bottom of it isn't 100%,

0:19:370:19:39

but if it's not cooked then you don't get the flavour.

0:19:390:19:42

I think it has to be cooked to get the richness of the egg.

0:19:420:19:45

-Do you think it needs a bit of salt?

-No.

0:19:450:19:47

-A bit more salt.

-Definitely.

0:19:470:19:49

Are you happy with the texture of the cooked pig sweetbread?

0:19:490:19:52

-I think the sweetbreads are absolutely spot-on.

-A huge risk.

0:19:520:19:55

Massive. I realise now it is a massive risk, huge risk.

0:19:550:19:58

Athletes, some of whom might not be the biggest of foodies...

0:19:580:20:01

is sweetbreads what they want to sit down and eat?

0:20:010:20:04

Yeah. It's not the most appealing thing to a lot of people.

0:20:040:20:06

-What boundaries were you pushing?

-The truffle, the textures,

0:20:060:20:09

the sweetbread itself.

0:20:090:20:10

As you said, you'd never seen it on a menu before.

0:20:100:20:13

It all comes together.

0:20:130:20:14

I think it could've done with a little bit more water cress.

0:20:140:20:17

-More salad, less meat.

-Yeah.

0:20:170:20:19

You think you'll do well with this dish?

0:20:190:20:20

Now the doubts are in my head - have I done the right thing?

0:20:200:20:23

Have I gone too simple?

0:20:230:20:24

Is it too far out there?

0:20:240:20:25

But to me it's the flavours, the flavours work so well.

0:20:250:20:28

I think it's a strong dish.

0:20:280:20:29

I believe in it.

0:20:290:20:30

There you have it, first course in.

0:20:320:20:34

Feedback from Richard... I haven't got a clue.

0:20:340:20:37

Did like it? Didn't he like it?

0:20:370:20:39

I don't know. Direct questions...

0:20:390:20:41

but yeah, I'm second guessing myself totally now.

0:20:410:20:44

Next to plate up is Chris Fearon.

0:20:440:20:47

He quickly pan-fries his pigeon breast -

0:20:470:20:50

a delicate meat that needs precision cooking - then carefully fills

0:20:500:20:54

his clay pigeon tagines with broth, fennel and slices of pigeon breast.

0:20:540:20:58

-Is that the pucks from the clay pigeon shot, Chris?

-Yeah.

0:20:580:21:01

Very clever, very good.

0:21:010:21:03

His props are absolutely beautiful looking

0:21:030:21:05

but it'll be interesting to see how it tastes.

0:21:050:21:08

To finish his tagines he adds some pea shoots before closing it up

0:21:080:21:11

and adding it to his special gunshot plate with his spicy

0:21:110:21:15

pigeon rolls in an exploded shotgun cartridge on the side.

0:21:150:21:18

Happy?

0:21:280:21:29

I am happy, yeah.

0:21:290:21:30

It looks unique.

0:21:300:21:32

Is it good enough to call groundbreaking?

0:21:320:21:34

-Let's go taste it.

-OK.

0:21:340:21:36

What will Richard make of Chris' gimmicky clay pigeon shoot?

0:21:380:21:42

Will the food live up to the daring presentation?

0:21:420:21:44

He's done it again, presentation. It's looking very different.

0:21:440:21:47

-It looks fun.

-It does, it's fun. That's what it's all about.

0:21:470:21:49

Happy with the cooking of the pigeon?

0:21:490:21:52

It maybe could've done a wee bit longer, Chef.

0:21:520:21:55

Maybe not everybody's cup of tea that rare.

0:21:550:21:57

The pigeon is cooked spot-on.

0:21:590:22:01

Are you happy with the quantity of spicing in the pigeon and the pastilla?

0:22:070:22:12

It's not overly poor but there's definitely room to improve on it, Chef.

0:22:120:22:16

-The spices are not overpowering.

-No.

0:22:160:22:19

They're still lingering in my mouth but not sickening, not overpowering.

0:22:190:22:23

-And the argan oil?

-Argan oil, there's a little bit too much in there.

0:22:230:22:26

I got a bit carried away with it, I think.

0:22:260:22:28

Do you think it's groundbreaking?

0:22:280:22:30

I think its presentation is groundbreaking,

0:22:300:22:32

but some of the flavours - been done before.

0:22:320:22:34

-Do you think that this is groundbreaking?

-For me, it's not.

0:22:340:22:37

It's a pigeon tagine that's been cooked a million times.

0:22:370:22:40

I think the presentation's where he's moved it forward, maybe?

0:22:400:22:45

Is this an Olympic winner?

0:22:450:22:46

Being refined a little bit, I think it could be there.

0:22:460:22:49

It's got potential.

0:22:490:22:50

Worried by that?

0:22:500:22:51

Yeah. Overall it's a really good dish. Really good.

0:22:510:22:54

And I am worried, personally worried big time.

0:22:540:22:57

I sort of know that the spicing would've been a big thing today,

0:22:570:23:02

a big risk, you know?

0:23:020:23:04

And it's very hard to read Richard, what he really thinks.

0:23:040:23:08

He could be playing mind tricks with me,

0:23:080:23:10

but I sort of think that I could've done it a wee bit more justice.

0:23:100:23:13

Last to plate up is Chris Bell.

0:23:140:23:16

He starts off with a dash of rhubarb puree then adds his rhubarb jelly.

0:23:160:23:20

There's a lot going on the dish.

0:23:200:23:22

There's maybe too much going on the dish.

0:23:220:23:24

He continues by adding a walnut and a sage leaf

0:23:240:23:26

before getting his rabbit loin, heart and liver on to fry.

0:23:260:23:30

Then adds his many elements to the plate, with some dandelion leaves

0:23:300:23:34

for garnish and nervously serves his savoury tea and biscuits.

0:23:340:23:37

-TEA CUP RATTLES

-God!

0:23:370:23:39

It's OK, it's OK, you're doing great.

0:23:390:23:41

There we go - salad of rabbit and rhubarb with tea and biscuits.

0:23:410:23:45

Enough to get you the gold podium?

0:23:450:23:46

I think it looks OK, the flavours work, but proof of the pudding...

0:23:460:23:51

Come on, let's eat it quick when it's hot, yeah? I'll take the tea.

0:23:510:23:54

Will Chris' daring rabbit and rhubarb dish

0:23:550:23:58

be the opening ceremony Richard is looking for?

0:23:580:24:00

-Are you happy with the combination of rabbit and rhubarb?

-I like it.

0:24:000:24:04

I think they complement each other very well.

0:24:040:24:06

-I think the broth's bang on.

-I'm going to try this as a tea.

-It's not too gingery.

0:24:060:24:09

-Oh, nice flavour there.

-The wee rhubarb...

0:24:160:24:19

Oh, that's delicious.

0:24:190:24:20

That is absolutely beautiful, the rhubarb, isn't it?

0:24:200:24:24

Are you happy with the biscuit?

0:24:240:24:26

I don't think they're awful, I think they're a bit bland.

0:24:260:24:28

And on top of the rabbit?

0:24:280:24:30

Just a little bit of pickled rhubarb but just left it a wee bit crunchy.

0:24:300:24:34

The wee bit of pickled rhubarb is quite sharp.

0:24:360:24:39

-A bit too sharp?

-Yeah, maybe a wee bit too sharp.

0:24:390:24:41

A lot of techniques going on here.

0:24:410:24:43

-I

-think that's what the brief asks for.

0:24:430:24:45

Groundbreaking, for me, is something that's not thrown around every restaurant in Britain

0:24:450:24:50

and I don't think this is.

0:24:500:24:51

It is different. It's pushing the boundaries and it's within the brief,

0:24:510:24:54

definitely within the brief.

0:24:540:24:55

-Are you a gold medal winner in this dish?

-I don't know.

0:24:550:24:59

-Tough competition.

-Very.

0:24:590:25:00

I'm worried by it.

0:25:000:25:02

Being honest, both your dishes I'm totally worried by.

0:25:020:25:04

Well, lad, how'd you get on?

0:25:040:25:06

-Who knows?

-Well done.

-Nice, very nice.

0:25:060:25:08

-You can only hope now.

-It's down to the big man.

0:25:080:25:11

It is. You know?

0:25:110:25:12

I know how nervous I am, what about you two?

0:25:120:25:14

The feedback I got from Richard put doubt in my mind.

0:25:140:25:16

This is the hard part now, just waiting.

0:25:160:25:18

And a lot of stuff, a lot of doubt going through your head. It's just mind games now.

0:25:180:25:22

So who will be in pole position after day one?

0:25:250:25:28

Niall, your pig sweetbreads with the black truffle emulsion

0:25:370:25:41

and the baked onion...

0:25:410:25:43

The truffle emulsion was delicious.

0:25:440:25:47

And you managed to rescue your egg,

0:25:470:25:50

even though the bottom got overcooked,

0:25:500:25:52

but it didn't destroy the dish.

0:25:520:25:54

But...

0:25:540:25:56

..the poached sweetbread,

0:25:570:25:59

they looked quite anaemic...

0:25:590:26:01

..quite unappetising.

0:26:020:26:04

I'm not too sure about them being right for this banquet.

0:26:040:26:07

Chris Fearon.

0:26:090:26:10

Your clay pigeon shoot, I think was a groundbreaking concept.

0:26:100:26:15

You really tried hard and you pushed yourself.

0:26:150:26:18

It looked good visually, but...

0:26:200:26:22

the pigeon was undercooked and under spiced.

0:26:220:26:26

The pastilla, I think could have done with a little bit more filling

0:26:280:26:32

and more spice as well.

0:26:320:26:34

-Too much of that argan oil.

-Yeah.

0:26:340:26:35

It's quite lethal.

0:26:370:26:39

Chris Bell. Your rabbit with black pudding and rhubarb salad,

0:26:390:26:43

and of course, not forgetting your tea and biscuits.

0:26:430:26:46

I didn't like the biscuit.

0:26:460:26:48

No.

0:26:480:26:49

But the rabbit was moist - cooked perfect.

0:26:490:26:54

An unusual combination of flavours,

0:26:540:26:57

all carried very nicely with one another.

0:26:570:27:00

It was an exceptional dish.

0:27:000:27:02

Niall, for your pig sweetbread dish, I'm giving you...

0:27:040:27:09

..7/10.

0:27:120:27:13

Chris Fearon, for your clay pigeon shoot, I'm giving you...

0:27:170:27:22

..6/10.

0:27:250:27:27

Chris Bell, for your rabbit, tea and biscuit, I'm giving you...

0:27:290:27:33

..9/10.

0:27:370:27:39

-Congratulations, everybody.

-Thank you very much.

0:27:400:27:42

-Well done, Chris Bell.

-Thanks.

0:27:420:27:44

So Chris Bell's first out of the blocks with an impressive nine.

0:27:490:27:53

Niall's a couple of points behind with a respectable seven,

0:27:530:27:56

and Chris Fearon's chasing at his heels with just six.

0:27:560:27:59

I'm absolutely over the moon, couldn't be happier.

0:27:590:28:02

Have to pick myself up now and be positive going into tomorrow.

0:28:020:28:05

Try to nail it, try to get a good score and get back on my feet.

0:28:050:28:08

I'm happy cos that means I'm in the middle ground

0:28:080:28:11

but at the same time you want to come first.

0:28:110:28:14

Tomorrow it's the fish course

0:28:140:28:15

and it's all proving too much for last year's champion Chris Fearon.

0:28:150:28:20

I'm really concentrating here. I'm just trying to push myself a bit more.

0:28:200:28:23

-Feeling under a bit of pressure today?

-Big time.

0:28:230:28:26

There's a bit of nerves creeping in. Let's have a bit of chat outside.

0:28:260:28:29

-Are you OK?

-Yeah, I just don't want to go home.

-Calm, calm, calm down.

0:28:290:28:32

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0:28:510:28:54

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