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L-R: Johnnie Mountain of the English Pig, London (Great British Menu 2011) and Marcus Bean of The New Inn, Baschurch (Iron Chef Winner 2010) at Kai We Care (photo © Kavita Favelle of Kavey Eats ) “It’s a pretty tall order given the competition, but even among chefs, Johnnie Mountain could be considered seriously eccentric” Charles Campion I'm ashamed (relieved) to say that my TV viewing has diminished greatly of late, but I'm hoping to catch Great British Menu 2011 from tomorrow. This year the chefs are being challenged to cook for the ultimate street party, The People's Banquet - inspired by The Big Lunch , a nationwide one-day event that encourages people to cook and eat with their neighbours in the spirit of community, friendship and fun. This week on the Great British Menu, it's the turn of the North West chefs Bruno Birkbeck, Johnnie Mountain and Lisa Allen to fight it out. I got the chance to speak with Johnnie Mountain , chef/owner of the English Pig on Aldersga...

Glynn Purnell is known to many as the pride of culinary Birmingham. The Michelin-starred chef owns the restaurant Purnell's , and last month he opened a second restaurant called The Asquith , on the site of the former Jessica's where he earned his first Michelin star. He's also been one of my favourite chefs on the Great British Menu , due to his creativity and charm. I was lucky enough to talk to him backstage at Saturday Kitchen Live at this weekend's BBC Good Food Show (my very first interview conducted in person). Listen to the first five minutes of our conversation here - the transcript follows: Listen! You’ve been called the “Finest chef to hail from Chelmsley Wood” (by the Birmingham Post ) as well as a “Yummy Brummie” (by Olive Magazine ) – which title do you prefer? I love people to know where I’m from because I’m proud of where I’m from, but to be called a Yummie Brummie is very flattering and also [gives me] the chance to fly the flag for Birmingham, so the ...

I've been a bit spaced out lately, preoccupied with work and general malaise. So much so that I hadn't got round to organising anything for my husband's 30th birthday. He said he didn't want a fuss, but I felt like I should do something to mark the occasion (fireworks! a rocket trip!) and I pressed him until he simply said "Can we just go somewhere nice for dinner?" Me being the excellent wife that I am, I promptly forget till a few days before the big day. "Arse, no-one's going to let me book a Friday night at this short notice" I think to myself. So I decide to chance my arm and pester directly. Launceston Place is my victim; I send a Twitter message hoping they'll take pity on me. Astonishingly, they do - despite being fully-booked, they promise to squeeze us in at 6pm. Result. The next day, Launceston Place tweet about an Evening Standard piece on their Secret Chef's Table - described as the most exclusive table in town, you dine r...

It's my 50th blog post! To celebrate, here's the moment we've all been waiting for - The Great British Menu 2009 Homecoming Banquet ! With your host - Ross Kemp ! (straight after posting this image, my computer crashed - such is the power of Ross Kemp ) Sadly, this doesn't mean that Jennie Bond has been put out to pasture - rather that Grant Mitchell is hosting the banquet itself and JB keeps her gig as voice-over (though she's not actually invited to the event itself, ha). The chefs Kenny Atkinson , Shaun Rankin , Nigel Haworth and my fave, Glynn Purnell arrive at RAF Halton House the day before the banquet - the latter two have rather sweetly driven themselves down. There's some flashback action, with scenes of Kenny dressing up like Tina Turner in combats, and of Glynn being patronised in a Brummie spice factory - "We Have. To Grind. Them Sloooowly. Or they. Will Get. Burnt". To remind you, the menu they'll be preparing will be: Salad of A...