Raymond Blanc takes The Restaurant to North Devon
BBC FILM crews descended on Castle Hill in Filleigh last week for a culinary challenge which will make or break the dreams of four budding restaurateurs.
Castle Hill, home to Lord and Lady Arran, was used as the venue for the final of BBC2 show The Restaurant which will be screened tonight at 8pm.
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ON TV: Restaurant host and top chef Raymond Blanc (left) is pictured with Lord and Lady Arran at Castle Hill, Filleigh.
The challenge saw the two remaining pairs of contestants serve up a prestigious banquet for the Arrans and their guests.
The couples competed by making alternate courses of a seven-course meal, facing a final cook-off with the souffle dessert.
Lady Arran said: "I'm sure the final will make unmissable viewing — it was certainly a very interesting and entertaining experience for us.
"Snoopy, Lord Arran's dog, took a dislike to one of the cameramen and the food didn't all quite turn out as anticipated.
"However, the chefs worked very hard and were so enthusiastic. We are looking forward to finding out who wins this wonderful opportunity to work with Raymond Blanc."
The programme has had a long-running association with North Devon with all the previous winners hailing from the area.
Last year the competition was won by Woolacombe couple Russell Clement and Michele English and in 2007 by Jane and Jeremy Hooper from Chivenor near Braunton.
The Hoopers went on to run The Thatch in Oxfordshire while Russell and Michele spent last year building up trade at their restaurant, The Cheerful Soul at the Hare and Hounds in Buckinghamshire.
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by Sue, Kent
Tuesday, December 22 2009, 1:38PM
“The result must have been a fix!I will never watch another Raymond Blanc series again as long as I live!”
by J williams, Devon
Tuesday, December 22 2009, 12:19PM
“Either Raymond is crazy OR he misled the audience and the contestants.
OR The producers misled the audience and the contestants.
'Anon' from North Devon is in a dreamworld if he thinks their 'concept' will hit high streets.
Who wants to pay top dollar to goto a restaurant to be served with scotch eggs? what would be for starters? Crisps? and desert - A pickled egg?
It was totally ridiculous.
Crazy Ray has lost any credibility he may have once had.
He doesn't deserve to host a TV show like this as he is evidently not experienced like Sir Alan, Ruth Watson, Alex Polizzi or Gordon Ramsey.”
by Catherine Buckwell, West Midlands
Monday, December 21 2009, 1:34PM
“Having watched the previous series, this was the worst. Anyone that pours flour into a souffle mix to try and thicken it is a moron of the first order. I would not be pleased if I was offered a cocktail in place of the food I had ordered. What about people who don't drink? The whole final was a disaster and the two that won treated the whole thing as a joke!”
by Ronnie McKay, Argyll
Monday, December 21 2009, 11:06AM
“As a head chef myself I think it is terrible that someone that can't cook got to the final let alone won it. Raymond Blanc is way down in most peoples eyes.”
by Matt, Kent
Sunday, December 20 2009, 3:19PM
“I think that the idea of someone who can't cook running a kitchen is absurd. A strong concept means nothing if the chef is incompetent, as in this case. I can't get over that they won and actually makes me judge Raymond Blanc's ability to assess chefs. I think if these two can impress one of the world's top chefs, anyone can open a restaurant. It's more likely he will make the mixologist run the restaurant bar, then hire a decent chef.”