BBC`s Great British Menu

Head chef of Balloo House Danny Millar has been victorious for the
second year running in the Northern Ireland regional heat of the
Great British Menu.

The competition was stiff this year as he went head to head with 3
star Michelin chef, Clare Smyth, originally from Bushmills in County
Antrim.  Clare is currently head chef at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay
in London.

The two styles of cooking were poles apart from day one of the
competition with Clare’s discipline and attention to detail ensuring
that there were no hiccups with her menu.  Danny’s preferred style
of “cooking from the heart” had given him some ups and downs
throughout the week long competition, but on the final day his
cooking shone through and the his menu was chosen  to go
through to the final.  Judge Oliver Payton described Danny’s starter
dish as “more than perfect…perfectly perfect” while Prue Leith
felt that this year, Danny’s cooking was “an absolute revelation”. 

On his victory Danny said “Clare is an exceptionally talented chef,
currently at the top of her game.  To win against a chef of that
calibre is a huge honour.  I am hopeful that a least one of my dishes
will make it onto the menu for the final banquet so that the taste of
Northern Ireland is represented at this year’s dinner”

Danny Millar’s Great British Menu
(click on links for recipe)

Starter
Chicken broth with soda bread and chicken livers
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/database/chickenandvegetableb_91123.shtml

Fish course
Poached wild sea trout with crab and potato salad,
pickles and salad cream
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/database/poachedwildseatroutw_91124.shtml

Main course
Beef shin, stout and oyster pie with champ and cabbage & bacon
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/database/beefshinstoutandoyst_91126.shtml

Dessert
Rhubarb & Custard
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/database/rhubarbandcustard_91125.shtml