Horsham star chef Matt Gillan starts his BBC campaign to cook at prestigious banquet

Matt Gillan. Photo: Dave Green - dave@greenimaging.co.uk — Matt Gillan. Photo: Dave Green - [email protected]

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Horsham based top chef Matt Gillan appeared on BBC2’s Great British Menu last night (Monday September 21) as he started his attempt to have a dish served at a glorious banquet marking 100 years of the Women’s Institute at London’s historic Drapers Hall.

Matt joined South Lodge Hotel, in Lower Beeding, in 2006 and his talent has earned The Pass 4 AA Rosettes, and in 2011 a coveted Michelin star.

The programme sees three chefs each week from different regions of the UK being marked on their starters, fish course, main dish and dessert.

Winners of this first round present their menus to the judging panel: award-winning critic Matthew Fort, doyenne of British cookery Prue Leith, and restaurateur Oliver Peyton. Joining the Great British Menu judging panel each week is a guest judges - long-standing WI members, mothers and home cooks - who will ensure the dishes going forward to the Great British Menu national finals measure up to the exacting standards of the Institute.

After yesterday’s starter round Matt is tied with Mark Froydenlund, two points behind the leader Lee Westcott.

This is Matt’s second time in the competition, having failed to reach the judges’ chamber two series ago. His menu traces the history of the Women’s Institute over the last 100 years.

Great British Menu is on BBC2 tonight at 7.30pm or watch the first episode on the BBC iPlayer.

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