This week Liverpool chef Dave Critchley will take part in the North West heat of the Great British Menu, being broadcast on BBC2
Liverpool chef Dave Critchley will hit the small screen this week as he competes in the popular TV series the Great British Menu.
The executive head chef at Lu Ban, which creates Tianjin inspired dishes, is one of four chefs competing in the North West regional heat, which tests the chefs’ creative and culinary skills in the search for the perfect menu.
The weekly heats, which began in March, are aired across three nights and features four chefs going head-to-head in a bid to impress the judges. The North West episodes will be broadcast from Wednesday, May 5, on BBC 2.
This is the 16th series of Great British Menu which has the theme of British innovation, as 2021 marks 30 years since Sir Timothy Berners-Lee first made the internet widely available, as well as Helen Sharman becoming the first British astronaut to go into space.
Dave, who is making his first appearance on the show, said: “It feels amazing to have been asked to take part. It’s something I have been a huge fan of since I was a younger chef and there have been some fantastic chefs on there. It’s a huge honour to be involved as it’s an ambition of mine fulfilled.”
His North West rivals are Kirk Haworth from Plates, London, who’s originally from Blackburn; Liverpool-born Dan McGeorge, from Rothay Manor in the Lake District and Ashwani Rangta, executive chef at GupShup in Altrincham who’s originally from Shimla in northern India.
Dave, who is preparing for the reopening of Lu Ban on May 20, is giving nothing away other than to reveal his menu choices were inspired by innovators connected to Liverpool.
“I have chosen people who many might not be aware of, but who have helped people in the city,” he added.
“I wanted my dishes to reflect their characters and be about Liverpool and these people, their community – my people, my life, my city, and my community.”