IT MIGHT be less than a month before the results of this year’s Michelin Guide are announced, but you’d forgive Adam Reid, head chef at The French by Simon Rogan in The Midland, for being a little preoccupied.
You can also catch Reid at his Fest-aurant (4-6 Oct) during this year's Manchester Food and Drink Festival
Reid, 31, from East Manchester (pictured above), fought off tough competition from Liverpool-born Matt Worswick, who this year replaced Michael Wignall at The Latymer in Surrey, and Cheshire-born Kim Woodward of the Gordon Ramsay-owned Savoy Grill in central London, to be crowned winner of the Great British Menu North West heats (which aired on BBC2 on Friday 16 September).
The chef now heads into finals week, alongside Michael Bremner, winner of the Scottish heat, South West heat winner Josh Eggleton, and the remainder of the regional winners in with a chance of cooking at the ‘Great Britons’ banquet held in the Palace of Westminster.
Many of those attending the banquet will have been awarded honours by the Queen, from OBEs, CBEs and MBEs to the Victoria Cross.
Reid wowed judges, including Michelin-starred chef Phil Howard, with four dishes including a starter influenced by Indian cuisine aptly titled, ‘From Pakoras to the Palace’, and a main course of roast loin of Cumbrian beef accompanied by roast farm vegetables and ‘beef’ tea.
Adam Reid is head chef at The French in Manchester“That point when you’re told you have won the region and got through to the finals week is amazing,” said Reid. “After all the sweat and tears it just makes it all worthwhile.
“Cooking for Phil was daunting to say the least; someone you’ve looked up to your entire career is now judging your cooking first hand,” he added. “Fortunately, we were in a different room to the main judges, so I tried to focus on serving them as though they were normal guests, VIPs obviously.”
READ: The French makes the Good Food Guide's Top 20 restaurants in the UK
Reid, who started his career at the Bridgewater Hall, quickly moved through the ranks of Brockencote Hall in Worcestershire and the Michelin-starred Chester Grosvenor before landing the top role at The French in 2013.
You can also catch Reid at his Fest-aurant (4-6 Oct) during this year's Manchester Food and Drink Festival 2016 - more info here.
You can follow Adam Reid's progress on BBC iPlayer.
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