As you might expect from the Welsh round, the main course consisted of a battle of the lamb. Nick’s The Brecon Beacons: The Garden of Wales was made with Summer lamb loin, fillet and sweetbreads accompanied by garden vegetables and a chive mayonnaise. The judges were divided as to whether the ‘still bleating’ lamb was as they’d like it, but were universal in applauding the amount of work that went in, down to Nick’s peeling of his peas.
We’ve seen several miniature barbecues throughout the competition, but Phil’s
Fired! may just be the most successful yet. His barbecued lamb leg with coleslaw, potato salad and barbecue sauce sounded simple on paper, but in the execution proved to have just enough of a sophisticated twist. Judges loved the theatre and the fun and gaiety it brought to the normally serious chamber, with Oliver imagining himself and Dan on centre court, barbecues in hand.
During Thursday’s test run, Nick’s Apple Scrumping dessert was criticized by Tom Aikens for not being summery enough so it was interesting to see a complete reinvention on Friday. The white chocolate apple became a juicy red strawberry in Red Knees, accompanied by enough sweet and sharp flavours to please even Oliver, not normally a white chocolate fan. But despite these rescue attempts, Nick’s reinvention was outshone by Phil’s pleasingly bonkers Game, Set and Massive Mess. Any dessert involving an edible tennis ball is going to be popular in a Wimbledon banquet competition. Fill it with Eton mess and sit it on top of a trifle made with peaches and Champagne, and you’re onto a winner. Judges praised Phil’s creativity, the texture and fulfillment of the brief with a bowl full of summer both to look at and to eat.
Practise, it seems, does make perfect, and Phil was crowned champion for Wales. With so many delicious dishes cooked so far, it’s a tough call which will reach the banquet, but I’ve got good money on that tennis ball making an appearance.