Foody contest

WE’RE SITTING in the Geriatrics’ Corner of the Pub when conversation turns to the subject of the Great British Menu (BBC 2) – the competition for professional chefs for an opportunity to cook at the prestigious People’s Banquet.

Now, naturally enough, we’re all rooting for the North West finalist, Lisa Allen – if for no other reason than because Lisa began her career at this very pub kitchen, and has been guest chef here a couple of times.

Memorably, we went to one of her “special” evenings here, and very good it was too – not surprisingly she is now working at a Michelin-stared restaurant down Blackburn way.

Anyhow, we are all impressed, indeed amazed, by the lengths to which some of the chefs go to to wow the judges – from antique copper fish kettles to bales of hay on which the judges are expected to sit.

One chap brought a charcoal barbeque into the kitchen to give some of his pork that extra bite – and filled the whole kitchen with smoke and ash!

Another chef dished up his dessert in a bouquet of flowers and spiked it with lit sparklers in order to make the judges sit up.

It makes the beef stew I’m slow cooking today seem a bit limp; if I can find a couple of little union jack flags I might just stick them into the jacket spuds I’m serving the stew with – just for fun!