Renowned chef Paul makes return on Great British Menu

Renowned chef Paul makes return on Great British Menu

24 March 2021

DUNDRUM chef Paul Cunningham will once again be tempting judges with his tantalising creations when the Great British Menu makes a welcome return this evening.

The hugely popular series airs on BBC Two every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday over the next eight weeks with Paul and other chefs from across the UK serving up food heaven.

The Great British Menu — now in its 16th season — will not be a new experience for Paul as he has already appeared before.

He is one of four Northern Ireland chefs taking part in the prestigious competition which concludes with the famous banquet. Among those from the province joining him is Carryduff’s Gemma Austin.

Paul, who is delighted to be selected again, is head chef and director of Brunel’s in Newcastle and has a close link with the South Eastern Regional College’s hospitality and catering programmes.

And when the popular BBC programme concludes, Paul will be making an appearance at the college’s Downpatrick campus to showcase some of his creations when the show is finished.

Self-taught Paul said the main inspiration behind his passion for fresh, seasonal produce is his grandfather who would often take him foraging along the Dundrum coastline.

He said local ingredients are very important to him and intends to transport some of his foraging expertise to the Great British Menu.

The theme of this year’s hit television show is British invention as 2021 marks the 30th anniversary of Sir Tim Berners-Lee making the internet widely available to the masses, while Helen Sharman became the first British astronaut to go into space.

Some of Paul’s dishes have been inspired by Northern Ireland pioneers who have made their mark on the globe, including Frank Partridge who invented the defibrillator and Harry Ferguson.

Not surprisingly, one of Paul’s other influences is Victorian engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, who his Newcastle restaurant is named after.

While the first in the new series airs tonight, the Great British Menu was filmed last year, with Covid regulations in place, with all the chefs spaced out across the kitchen.

Paul Mercer, deputy head of hospitality and catering at the South Eastern Regional College, said shows like the Great British Menu inspire people, whether it is to try something new, have a go at making something different, or aspire to a career in the hospitality and catering industry.

“To say the past year has been a challenge, is an understatement,” he said. “But we have seen restaurants and chefs turn their businesses on their heads to keep going.

“At the same time, we have had to get really creative at the College to ensure our students continue to learn and pick up the skills they need, to be part of the industry when it opens up again.

“We are all getting ready and the Great British Menu will certainly whet our appetites for when that happens.”

Mr Mercer added: “We wish Paul, Gemma and the other Northern Ireland contestants, all the very best for the forthcoming season of the Great British Menu. We know they will do us all proud.”