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London and South East - Starter

Creative culinary competition. One chef serves a deeply personal mushroom dish, dedicated to the NHS staff who cared for his late mother.

Great British Menu is back, and this time the nation's top professional chefs are competing for a chance to cook 'A Feast to Say Thank You' at a glorious banquet celebrating 70 years of the NHS, one of Britain's most prized institutions. Across eight regional heats, 24 chefs compete in the toughest competition of their lives as they attempt to dazzle with their culinary skills, serving up outstanding dishes that honour the incredible work of the heroic NHS staff and give them a gastronomic experience they will never forget. In each regional heat, they first have to impress one of the surprise veteran judges whose identity won't be revealed until they walk through the door. The two highest-scoring chefs then face our exacting panel of judges - Oliver Peyton, Matthew Fort and Andi Oliver.

This week, it is the turn of three chefs from London and south east England. 2017's banquet champion Selin Kiazim, a rising star of the London scene renowned for her Turkish Cypriot fusion flavours, is back hoping to join the elite group of chefs who have made it to the banquet twice. She is up against James Cochran, who has worked at some of London's toughest kitchens, including two Michelin-starred The Ledbury, and Scott Goss from The Twenty Six in Tunbridge Wells, renowned for his use of local Kent ingredients.

Today, the three chefs meet their surprise veteran judge and one chef in particular is in for a shock. But who can conquer their nerves score well? Selin hopes to elevate a Turkish-style breakfast into a starter fit for a banquet. James serves a deeply personal mushroom dish, dedicated to the NHS staff who cared for his late mother through cancer, and inspired by her love of foraging. While Scott attempts a creative reimagining of tea and biscuits, dedicated to NHS shift workers.

30 minutes

Credits

Role Contributor
Executive Producer Tom Clarke
Series Producer Claudine Parrish
Director Phil Ashton
Series Editor Genevieve Welch
Production Company Optomen

Broadcasts

Series 19: Meet the Chefs

Series 19: Meet the Chefs

Find out more about the chefs competing to make it through to the 2024 banquet.