麻豆社

Great British Menu is back and the nation's top chefs are competing for the ultimate prize - the chance to cook at a banquet held at the Palace of Westminster, in celebration of everyday great Britons honoured by the Queen. In the year of the Queen's 90th birthday, the chefs are challenged to showcase contemporary cuisine and demonstrate the transformation in British food during her historic reign. The 24 chefs have travelled the country meeting everyday great Britons who have been recognised for their tireless and selfless work for charities, for local communities and for the country.

This week, three top chefs from Northern Ireland are competing for a place in the national finals. After 20 years working at top restaurants in London, Chris McGowan has just opened his first solo venture - Wine & Brine in County Armagh. It is Chris's third time in GBM. He has made it to the national finals once but this time only the banquet will do. However, he is facing tough competition from Mark Abbott, head chef at Daniel Clifford's two Michelin-star restaurant, Midsummer House in Cambridge, and also from Eddie Attwell, who has just completed a year as head chef at Ardtara Country House in Upperlands.

There are some varied and exciting starters as the chefs get creative with pigs heads, potatoes and reinventing the classic ploughman's. And there is real shock and emotion as the veteran chef delivers his scores - he is stunned by the quality of the cooking.