In 2008, for the first time, two chefs earned 5 stars in one series, so this Christmas ‘The Restaurant’ is delighted to welcome back those chefs: Sports broadcaster Des Cahill and architect and star of ‘Room to Improve’ Dermot Bannon.
Both 5 star chefs have proven they can cook creative, original food under pressure, but there will be no stars at the end of the day – for the cook off, there will be just one winner.
Critics
Joining regular critics Paolo Tullio and Tom Doorley at this year’s cook off is TV Chef and best selling food author Trish Deseine. Trish is the Belfast-born cook who has lived and worked in France for more than 20 years. She is the author of nine books in French and two in English ‘Nobody Does It Better’ and ‘Trish’s French Country Kitchen’. Her two series ‘Trish’s Paris Kitchen’ were prime time hits for RTÉ.
DES CAHILL
Des has fond memories of his visit to ‘The Restaurant’ last year.
‘I really enjoyed the experience the last time I was on, partly because it was good fun – they’re a great team in the kitchen … I had a tough tastings, but the criticism was given with good intentions, so I took their advice and learnt from it, and that’s how I got the 5 stars’.
On his opponent Dermot in the cook off, Des says:
‘I was intimidated by Dermot’s show, his mother is a home economics teacher and his brother’s a chef. Then I saw him carrying all the menus written out and I thought hey, that’s not an expert, he might be closer to my level than he thinks.’
Des Cahill’s Menu
STARTER: Warm Chicken Salad with Honey and Mustard Dressing, Pine Nuts and Cashel Blue Cheese
MAIN COURSE: Loin of Lamb en Croute with Roast Autumn Vegetables
DESSERT: White Chocolate Mousse with Strawberry Ripple
DERMOT BANNON
Dermot was a bit shocked when he saw his appearance on ‘The Restaurant’ on TV.
‘‘I don’t think of myself as competitive, but apparently I am. My day at the restaurant, I really, really enjoyed it. I thought the whole day was really relaxed and good-humoured and when I saw it on television – I’m a bit of a fruitcake! Not that I was ashamed of myself but I was a bit surprised at how driven I was, and how pushy I was when it came to cooking. I come from a family of cooks and chefs so it was always ‘let Dermot fry the sausages and we’ll do the complicated stuff’.
But Dermot was thrilled at getting his 5 stars…
‘I wasn’t expecting the 5 stars, so it as a really nice surprise – I was on a high for nearly a week after.’
How does Dermot feel about going up against Des?
‘I am a bit more confident going up against Des than I probably would going up against Marco Pierre White! Des Cahill has been around for a long time, and everybody knows him and everybody loves him – I’m going up against an institution’
Does Dermot feel he can take the honours at the cook off?
‘Once you’ve got 5 stars before and you’re going back and if you don’t do well its almost like they’re taken off you, and you’ve got it all to lose. That’s the big worry isn’t it.’
Dermot Bannon’s Menu
STARTER: Seared Scallops on Black Pudding, with a Mint Pea Puree and Chilli Oil
MAIN COURSE: Loin of Venison with Redcurrant Jus, Parsnip Purée and Beetroot Crisps
DESSERT: Lemon Curd Tartlet with Autumn Berries