Michelin starred chef Josh Eggleton of The Pony & Trap in Chew Magna is set to represent the South West once again in this year’s series of BBC Two’s Great British Menu.
Josh Eggleton joins 23 of the nation’s top chefs, fighting it out for the chance to cook at the ultimate banquet. This year’s challenge is to create a series of dishes that honour Queen Elizabeth II’s ‘Great Britons’; everyday people who have been recognised and rewarded for their actions on the Queen’s birthday and New Year’s honours list throughout the years.
Josh will compete against Chris Wheeler of Humphry’s, Stoke Park, as well as fellow 2015 contestant Jude Kereama from Kota, Cornwall. Each must first impress a mystery veteran Great British Menu chef, who will put the top two through to the Friday regional final. Then it is back to the preparation stage as the chefs ready their menus once more for the GBM panel, consisting of Prue Leith, Matthew Fort and Oliver Peyton.
Last year Josh received a maximum score of 10 for his dessert, ‘Mission Milk’. Combining granola clusters, milk junket and freeze dried strawberries, the dish was inspired by the women in his family; particularly his grandmother, who was a founding member of the Norfolk Women’s Institute.
Josh says, “This will be the third time I’ve appeared on the Great British Menu and it’s been a great experience cooking alongside two fantastic chefs. This year’s brief was about honouring everyday people who have achieved incredible things and it was great to research and create dishes for. We’re recreating our dishes in a series of Great British Menu banquets in each of our restaurants so I’m looking forward to cooking with Chris and Jude again.”