If like me you have been following the Great British Menu on BBC 2 in recent weeks, you will know that the finals of the competition for 2014 are starting on Monday 2nd June and continuing all week until Friday 6th June when the banquet will be held.
Birmingham’s own Aktar Islam, Chef Director of acclaimed Lasan Restaurant in Birmingham’s St Paul’s Square area (apt) is competing against 7 other chefs. Only 4 of them will get the honour to go to St Paul’s Cathedral to cook a very special banquet to honour the men and women who gave so much for our country. The banquet itself will be televised on Friday 6th June, the 70th Anniversary of D Day.
I have always loved Aktar’s food and Lasan restaurant is one of the jewels in Birmingham’s fine food scene. As a veggie I have enjoyed some superb food over the years. See my review to come shortly of Lasan Restaurant.
On watching the Central region’s heat I loved and admired Aktar’s desert choice, (always a good section of the programme for veggies) called ‘Victory is Sweet’ which proved sweet for the judges in the heat. Aktar’s take on the queen of puddings featured a Winston Churchill cigar filled with ganache, plus crumble, meringue, a quinelle of raspberry sorbet and spun sugar crowns. The judges said it was ‘the perfect pudding’ giving it a perfect score of 10 all round, making 40 points of sweet indulgence!. Fantastic!
The competition will be tough as there are some great chefs and competitors on show.
It should be a great week on the Great British Menu (GBM).
I wish Aktar a great week, we are rooting for you. Go Aktar! Go Birmingham!
Lasan Restaurant
3,4 Dakota Buildings
James Street
St Paul’s Square
Birmingham
West Midlands
B3 1SD
0121 212 3664
@lasan
@aktarislam
@gbmofficial
@gbchefs
http://www.greatbritishchefs.com
veggiefoodie 