Great British Menu 2022: How Leeds chefs Liz Cottam and Bobby Geetha fared on the BBC Two show
and live on Freeview channel 276
Competing in the North East and Yorkshire heat were Liz Cottam and Bobby Geetha, who joined Luke French, the owner of Jöro in Sheffield, and Mark Aisthorpe of the Bulls Head in Derbyshire.
Bobby is the executive chef of Fleur Cafe, while Liz Cottam is the chef patron of HOME, The Owl and CORA. Both chefs are shortlisted as Chef of the Year in the Yorkshire Evening Post's Oliver Awards 2022.
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Hide AdChefs from across the country are competing to have their dishes presented in the Great British Menu banquet, which this year is celebrating 100 years of British broadcasting.
The series is being presented by Andi Oliver with a new judging line-up - Michelin-starred Tom Kerridge, restaurateur Nisha Katona and comedian and food podcast presenter Ed Gamble.
O’Hare, the owner of Michelin-starred Leeds restaurant The Man Behind the Curtain, was revealed as the judge for the North East and Yorkshire heat.
So how did the Leeds chefs fare?
The first half of the North East and Yorkshire heat, starters and fish, aired on Tuesday evening.
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Hide AdLiz was up against it after having to remake elements of her Last of the Summer Wine-inspired lamb starter, but came away with the highest score at the end of the two rounds.
It was Bobby, who came on to the show with just a week’s notice after another chef dropped out, who sadly went home.
Michael O’Hare wanted more spice and finesse with plating, but said he enjoyed Bobby’s food and praised him for stepping up at the last minute.
Speaking on the show, Bobby said: “The competition is really tight with amazing chefs, it’s challenging but I really enjoyed it.
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Hide Ad“I did myself justice, I pushed myself. It was a really good experience for me.”
In the main and dessert round, which aired on Wednesday, the remaining three chefs competed for the chance to cook for the judges.
It wasn’t Liz’s day - she was eight minutes late to the pass with her Strictly Come Dancing-inspired main course, and her dessert, inspired by Downton Abbey, fell flat.
After receiving low scores from O’Hare she bowed out of the competition - but she was praised for not giving up and still getting two dishes out when nothing was going her way.
“What a rollercoaster ride that was," Liz said.