A Northumberland chef behind Michelin Star restaurant Pine is set to appear on TV show Great British Menu.
Cal Byerley is one of four chefs representing the North East in the regional heats of the popular BBC Two show. The heats, which will be broadcast at 8pm on January 31, will see Cal compete against other chefs for a place in finals week.
The theme of the series is celebrating Britain’s success in animation and illustration and will see chefs using their dishes to pay homage to landmark figures such as children’s book illustrator E. H. Shepard and animator Sheila Graber.
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Three episodes will be shown each week for nine weeks, covering each regional heat before finals week, which culminates in the banquet. Andi Oliver will present the series, with the judging panel made up of Michelin-starred chef and Great British Menu double banquet winner, Tom Kerridge along with restaurateur Nisha Katona and comedian Ed Gamble.
Cal, who is chef patron of Northumberland restaurant Pine, which he owns with partner Siân Buchan, said he was delighted to be a part of the show.
The 32-year-old said: "It really still hasn’t sunk in that I’m a part of Great British Menu 2023. It’s a little bit daunting but I’m looking forward to having the opportunity to show a little of what we are about at Pine and representing Northumberland in the North East regional heats and seeing what happens against some of the UK’s best-established and up-and-coming chefs.''
Cal started his career at the age of 16 working at the Robin Hood Inn before gaining experience at some of the UK’s best restaurants. He became head pastry chef working alongside Kevin Tickle at Michelin-starred Forest Side and also worked at Simon Rogan’s Rogan & Co where he discovered his obsession for pastry and bread making.
In 2021, Cal and Siân opened their restaurant Pine which received its first Michelin Star in 2022 and was also awarded a Michelin Green Star for sustainability. Pine has entered SquareMeal's top 100 restaurant list at six, the National Restaurant Awards top 100 list at 48 and Harden’s top 100 UK restaurants at 10.
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