Director of Wapping Wharf restaurant Woky Ko Larkin Cen has been eliminated from BBC Two show Great British Menu despite impressing host Andi Oliver and judge Angela Hartnett with his 'glorious' David Attenborough inspired dish.
Larkin Cen was representing Wales, which is where he grew up, in the acclaimed cookery competition. It saw him compete against two other talented chefs last night (February 16) in a bid to cook at the Great British Menu banquet. The theme this series is British broadcasting, in celebration of the BBC's centenary.
The three chefs worked incredibly hard to create intricate dishes based on British television programmes. For his main course, ambitious newcomer Larkin chose to base a lamb shoulder Szechuan hotpot on David Attenborough's Blue Planet, limiting the amount of meat used.
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Speaking to Andi and Angela, Larkin said: "In a lot of Asian countries, meat only forms 20 per cent of the diet, but that has a massive impact on the environment. So there’s only going to be about 50 grams of meat in this main. I’m using Welsh lamb shoulder today, which is a lovely cut, which I’m going to barbecue."
The hot broth contained countless spices, and was made using beef dripping and Chinese chillies. Larkin had to feed the delicate ramen noodle dough through a pasta machine to compress it and knock air out of the flour. After watching Larkin make the dish, Angela said: "Just when we went over there and saw 25-30 spices, we know for a fact that Larkin can do that lovely flavour and spice."
Alongside Larkin's competitors, Tom and Nathan, Andi sampled the dish, saying it was 'glorious'. The other contestants praised the hotpot for its kick, depth, and said that the noodles were some of the 'best they had ever had'.
Larkin modestly scored himself a nine, whilst his peers gave him a 10 for the dish. Angela, referring to the trio of dishes she tried from the chefs, said: "This is probably, if I’m absolutely honest, the best main courses I’ve judged in my time of judging."
Unfortunately, the pre-dessert and dessert elements of the competition did not fare so well for Larkin. Inspired by Barry-based sitcom Gavin and Stacey, the Bristol restaurant director opted for a pina colada soft-serve with fresh pineapple and a spiced rum syrup to go on top.
When Andi and Angela sampled Larkin's pre-desserts in private, Angela said: "That was probably my least favourite, I wasn’t necessarily a big fan. It felt very… it felt there was slightly too much as well. It felt quite big."
For his dessert, Larkin celebrated the fact that, from 2005 to 2018, Doctor Who was produced by BBC Cymru Wales by creating a dessert based on the Doctor's favourite dish - Fish Fingers and Custard.
Speaking to Andi, Larkin said: "So I’ve done a ‘fish finger’ which is an almond shortbread parfait. So that’s going to be coated, looks like a fish finger, and I’ve got a coconut creme brulee.
"And just for a nod to a previous Doctor Who, I’ve made a little pear tangtastic as well, 'cause he used to hand out Jelly Babies. I hope, you know, Doctor Who fans will love it."
Whilst his peers thought the dessert looked 'really inviting', and said the brulee had a 'lovely smoothness', Andi did not look to happy when she stumbled across a 'big bit' of shortbread in her parfait. Although, she did enjoy the sour pear jelly.
At the end of the show, all three contestants were put before Angela and Andi to find out what their desserts had scored them. Angela said: "Larkin, for your dessert, fish fingers and custard, the glass bowl with the brulee in it and the plate with the fish finger on it, so well done for bringing that alive. Really brilliant.
"The pear sour jelly was great, packed full of flavour, and the dish certainly needed acidity, so I’m glad you added that at the last minute. The brulee was delicious and the parfait had good flavour. The shortbread pieces, though, were too big.
"Larkin, I'm scoring you a seven."
Unfortunately, Larkin scored the lowest, meaning it was time for him to go home. But it wasn't all doom and gloom, as both Angela and Andi praised him for his skills.
Andi said: "I just want to say to you that you have been a revelation. Your main course is one of the best things I have eaten in a long time."
Referring to his main course, she told him: "It was truly astonishing - you are an incredibly talented chef." She said the broth was "out of this world".
Great British Menu airs at 8pm on BBC Two every weekday.
