Right then. There is to be no messing around today. No witty, long winded introductions to set up the scene. No flights of fancy, pondering on the philosophies and inner workings of a chef’s mind. Let’s not worry about how they dream up these amazing dishes. Let’s not stress about the execution, the verve, the passion, the artistry. And let’s definitely try to put those images of a naked Prue, Oliver and Matthew out of heads.
I’ve been up since 4 o’clock this morning, recapping, fast-forwarding and making notes on all the events of this week. Five hours all told. Five hours of high drama, rapturous joy, spilt milk and heartfelt tears. My head is buzzing, due to the twelve cups of coffee I’ve had. And all I keep seeing in front of me, is a naked Prue, Oliver and Matthew. Why? Why did they have to show it again?
I am haunted. I can’t think. I can’t think…….
*breathe*
OK, I jest. I am not having a major breakdown, I am just wondering how on earth I am going to kick this all off, because there really is a lot to go through. Perhaps, it would be best to start at the beginning. Yes, let start with that.
So our final eight chefs if you weren’t aware were Jak O’Donnell, Josh Eggleton, Adam Bannister, Ben Arnold, Michael O’Hare, Matt Worswick, Matt Gillan and Richard Bainbridge, who was going for gold for the fourth time of trying. All eight had pretty spectacular dishes to impress with but all eight also produced some stinkers along the way and as it stood at the start of the week, it was really hard working out who would get through to the banquet. But they all turned up in their Sunday best and despite some obvious nerves, you could see that all eight chefs were going to give it their damned best go.
The main goal for each chef was to make a shortlist of three for each course and for this series, there was a twist; in that all three dishes in that shortlist had to be the very best, most perfect dish to be considered. If only one plate of food was deemed suitable, then so be it, only one dish would be in the shortlist. That dish would in fact be the winner. Because by very definition, it was the only dish that could be served at a banquet for the WI. Obvious? Confused? Yep, I was too but it all helped to stoke up the pressure cooker atmosphere, complete with bleeped swearing and ruddy cheeks.