Fantastic British Menu 2021: who are the Scottish chefs in year 16, when does it get started – and who are the judges?

BBC Two’s Wonderful British Menu is back, with new chefs, new dishes and “groundbreaking innovations, making the unimaginable – edible”.

Series 16 will be offered by former judge and food journalist Andi Oliver, and judged by restaurateur Oliver Peyton, food stuff critic Matthew Fort and chef, Rachel Khoo.

The present will aspect chefs from all across the United kingdom, initially competing in county heats in advance of progressing to the remaining levels of the acclaimed competitors.

Scotland is regarded 1 county, with three cooks likely head-to-head for a position in the next spherical. So, who are this year’s Scottish contestants? This is what you have to have to know.

How does the opposition perform?

The levels of competition included cooks from all around the British isles, competing for the likelihood to prepare dinner one course of a four training course banquet.

Contestants are divided into their property county, and contend in opposition to two many others from their place.

They cook dinner throughout three days – serving up a starter, major, dessert and fish program – in advance of the greatest chef goes by to the quarter finals.

The finalists then contend in elimination rounds, until finally the winner is determined.

Roberta Corridor-McCarron, The Very little Chartroom

Roberta Hall-McCarron is the happy owner and head chef of The Minor Chartroom on Albert Place, Edinburgh.

She runs the organization with her partner, Shaun, and the couple also own and operate The Little Chartroom on The Promenade in Portobello.

In an job interview with Scotsman Food and Drink, Hall-McCarron exposed that she grew up in a loved ones which took pride in fantastic British make.

Her grandfather was the founder of the city’s Hall’s Butchers and she and her mother and father used a lot of her childhood sailing in Scotland and ingesting high quality seafood.

Edinburgh-born Roberta built the GBM finals in 2020, but has returned with a reignited fireplace in her stomach.

Her culinary profession started at the age of 16 when she took component in perform experience at The Tower cafe in Edinburgh.

She then went on to perform along with Tom Kitchin at The Kitchin before becoming a member of Dominic Jack at Castle Terrace.

When learning at university in Glasgow, she labored at No. 16 restaurant and on graduating, moved to Dubai for a dream position in the kitchens of the Burj Al Arab resort.

Roberta’s fashion of cooking is usually Scottish, motivated by French tactics, and her menu for the competition is inspired by Scotland’s regional produce.

Stuart Ralston, Aizle and Noto

Seven a long time back, Stuart Ralston opened fashionable Scottish restaurant Aizle, this means a burning coal or spark in Scots.

Aizle, situated on Charlotte Sq. in Edinburgh, specialises in a 6-system tasting menu and was voted the fifth finest fine eating cafe in the Uk and initial in Scotland in its opening calendar year.

In 2019, Ralston set up Noto – targeted on food for sharing – on Edinburgh’s Thistle Avenue. The eatery was not long ago awarded a Bib Gourmand in the Michelin Information.

Noto is named right after Bob Noto – an aged male Ralston shared a flat with in New York.His father was also a chef, and his two brothers have adopted suit. His older brother Scott is the main executive of The Compass Group, which involves The Chophouse Dining places, The White Horse, and Monteith – all positioned in Edinburgh.

Younger brother Calumn is also a chef, at The Chophouse in Bruntsfield, Edinburgh.

Talking to The Scotsman very last yr, Ralston defined that he’s lived in several distinctive places, possessing moved all over a great deal with his relatives.

He is now a father of two boys, Sonny and Jesse, with his spouse Krystal.

In the early stages of his profession, Ralston properly trained at the then 3 AA Rosette cafe, Roman Camp in Callander, less than head chef Iain McNaught.

He then labored in other Scottish institutions, right up until he moved to the US in the 90s and worked less than Scottish chef Gordon Ramsay in New York.

Ralston is now just one of Edinburgh’s most effective identified cooks and is predicted to provide progressive, creative Scottish eating and delicacies all over the competitiveness.

Scott Smith grew up in rural Aberdeenshire, right before he moved to Edinburgh and opened his to start with restaurant, Norn, in 2016.

The critically acclaimed cafe done properly, but the pair made the decision to near Norn in 2018 and make investments in a new area.

He is now the proud proprietor of the well-liked and Michelin proposed Fhior restaurant, on Broughton Avenue, Edinburgh.

Smith opened the cafe with his wife, Laura, and the subsequent 12 months, Fhior received Restaurant of the Calendar year at the Edinburgh Cafe Awards.

The pair have because invested in farmland just outside the house of the town, so he can increase and cook heritage Scottish greens for the cafe.

Scott’s contemporary cooking revolves all-around Scottish produce such as foraged and house-preserved ingredients.

When is the Excellent British Menu back on tv?

The 16th series of GBM airs on BBC Two each individual Wednesday from 24 March, at 8pm.

You can check out all previous episodes and BBC iPlayer.