Lisa Allen, Northcote's Head Chef Stars this year's On BBC2's Great British Menu
Lancashire's very own Lisa Allen, Head Chef at Northcote and the only female chef to make it on BBC Two's popular Great British Menu, has been revealed to be amongst those to cook for Prince Charles at the Banquet in celebration of the National Trust.
After the unanimous vote by judges Oliver Peyton, Pru Leith and Matthew Fort on today's Final, Lisa Allen has been announced as one of the four winners and will cook her starter of Wild Rabbit & Leek Turnover with Piccalilli at tomorrow's Banquet, celebrating the very best local produce from across the country.
During Tuesday's Starter Final, Lisa's dish was described by the judges as 'homage to rabbit', 'delicious beyond belief' and 'very elegant and sophisticated'.
Pru Leith praised: "Lisa's dish is just so clever, innovative, suitable, delicious, pretty and seasonal. Frankly, if Prince Charles and Camilla don't like this, I don't want them as my Royal Family. I don't think anyone at the Banquet would have had this dish before, certainly not made of rabbit of this magnificent flavour."
The perpetually tough to please Peyton, remarked: "Lisa has been the absolute revelation in this competition. Her cooking has been really skilful and delicate. I love this rabbit dish."
"I am absolutely thrilled to have been voted through by the judges. To serve this dish to The Prince of Wales at the Banquet is the highlight of my career and I am incredibly proud to represent the North West and all other female chefs in the country at such a prestigious event," says Lisa Allen, Head Chef, Northcote.
Celebrating the wealth of delicious produce grown, reared and fished across the UK, the fifth series of Great British Menu has seen Lisa compete against 23 of Britain's top chefs. Lisa has long championed the wealth of produce on her doorstep and the gems of the North, particularly Sizergh Farm, helped her to victory - including The Levens Hall rabbit, Low Sizergh Cream and fresh Podded organic peas from HowBarrow.
"We feel very privileged to have contributed ingredients to champion Lisa Allen at Northcote and we are thrilled that Lisa's skill in making the most of fantastic regional foods has been recognised. Lisa recognises that our award winning produce is superior to any other in the area, due largely to our organic system which nourishes the cows and has a great impact on their welfare" Richard Park, Farmer at Low Sizergh Barn.
Tom Carriage fellow contestant on this year's show and amongst the eight finalists, noted: "What I have seen from Lisa has blown me away. This girl is a cracking chef - cool, calm, collected."
For 5 years, Lisa has been Head Chef at Nigel Haworth's hugely successful, Michelin starred Northcote in Lancashire following roles at Le Champignon Savage and Holbeck Ghyll.
"Lisa represents the spirit of Northcote moving forward, I am extremely proud of her as a chef and of her achievements in this competition. I cannot think of anyone better to cook for the Royal Family at the Banquet who represents the strength of young British Cooks today!" Nigel Haworth, Managing Director and Chef Patron at the Northcote Group, winner of Great British Menu 2009.
Click here to watch a shot preview of the series
Lisa's GBM menu available
From Wednesday 12th May 2010, you will be able to enjoy Lisa’s Great British menu at Northcote and judge for yourself if the judges got it right!
Lisa’s Great British Menu
5 courses £55.00 per person, available lunch and dinner
Levens Hall Wild Rabbit
& Leek Turnover, Piccalilli
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Wild Morecambe Bay Seabass, Shrimp Toastie,
Growing Well Tomato, Samphire
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Foragers Soup (Bittercress, Nettles, Chervil & Wild Garlic)
Goats Cheese Gnocchi
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Salt Marsh Lamb, Crushed Peas, Woodland Mushrooms,
English Onion and Sweetbread Fritter
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Sunny Bank Farm Strawberries, Meringue,
Quiggin’s Kendal Mint Cake Water Ice
3 course Lunch Menu £40.00
Wild Morecambe Bay Seabass, Shrimp Toastie,
Growing Well Tomato, Samphire
~~
Salt Marsh Lamb, Crushed Peas, Woodland Mushrooms,
English Onion and Sweetbread Fritter
~~
Sunny Bank Farm Strawberries, Meringue,
Quiggin’s Kendal Mint Cake Water Ice
All dishes are available individually on the a la carte menu, however please appreciate that dishes are subject to change, depending on availability of produce.
Recipes
Download Nigel's recipes by clicking on one of the links below:
Lisa's biography
Born in Lancashire in 1981, Lisa very quickly realised that food was her passion in life as she excelled at Home Economics in school. In her pursuit of excellence Lisa attended Lancaster and Morecombe College to study catering and upon graduation she secured her first position in an established kitchen; she joined the Michelin starred Holbeck Ghyll in the Lake District as a Commis Chef in 2000.
Click here download Lisa's full biography (PDF - 92 KB)
Press Releases
April 2010 - Lisa Allen Voted The Winner Of The North West Region Heats In This Year’s BBC 2 Great British Menu!
Lancashire’s very own Lisa Allen, Head Chef at Northcote, was voted through to be the only female chef to make it on to BBC Two’s popular Great British Menu Final this year.
Click here for the full press release (PDF - 92 KB)
April 2010 - Sizergh Helps Provides The Right Mix Of Ingredients For Bbc Daytime’s Great British Menu
Chef Lisa Allen from Northcote Manor Restaurant, Blackburn will be competing in the fifth series of Great British Menu, where she will be being challenged to source ingredients in and around the National Trust’s Sizergh Castle.
Click here for the full press release (PDF - 99 KB)
March 2010 - Lisa Allen Representing Lancashire In This Year’s BBC 2 Great British Menu
Lancashire’s very own Lisa Allen, Head Chef at Northcote, is the only female chef to make it on to BBC Two’s popular Great British Menu this year.
Click here for the full press release (PDF - 109 KB)
Reviews
The information for this section is currently being updated.