This first cook-off pits Cornwall against Nottinghamshire, and dishes include Cornish lobster and trout fishcake, with summery strawberry shortcake and Bakewell tart to follow.
Middlesex takes on Aberdeenshire, and judges Henrietta Green, William Sitwell and Richard Johnson must decide between the mouth-watering dishes prepared – Arbroath smokie, Aberdeen Angus steak, and Islington baked cheesecake made with home-grown ricotta.
Lancashire takes on North Yorkshire, and judges Henrietta Green, William Sitwell and Richard Johnson have a tough time deciding which of the dishes, including rib-eye of beef, Yorkshire lemon curd tart and Everton toffee ice cream, have the winning edge.
Glamorgan and Lincolnshire compete for the final spot in Friday’s second round, and the judges’ tastebuds are tested by dishes including prawn cocktail, sea bass with a Burry Estuary cockle dressing, Gower salt marsh lamb and Glamorgan honey ice cream.
All this week the teams have been battling to reach today’s Friday gourmet feast, and today the amateur chefs will not have the added advantage of preparing their chef captain’s recipes, but will have to come up with their own culinary ideas. To make things more interesting the judges take the day off, and a team of inspectors arrive – including a former director of the Michelin guides. Only two teams can go through to the next round.
Perthshire takes on Leicestershire and Rutland in an incredibly close competition. The judges must decide which of the mouth-watering offerings, including roast loin of Perthshire lamb, prosciutto wrapped saddle of rabbit, and plum bread and butter pudding with spiced pink champagne sorbet, is the worthy winner.
Cheshire competes with Wiltshire, and the menus include an exciting mix of traditional fare like Cheshire cheese and apple cake and ham hock cakes, alongside more contemporary dishes such as venison carpaccio and burnt custard with poached pears. Will everything go to plan for our amateurs?
Surrey v Suffolk, and regional ingredients feature strongly in dishes like Tillingbourne trout and Suffolk cure bacon. But judges Henrietta Greene, Richard Johnson and William Sitwell are divided. Nick Hancock hosts.
Today is the last chance this week to reach Friday’s cook off, and Graham Tinsley leads Carmarthenshire against Rosemary Shrager’s Northumberland team. Tempting the judge’s taste buds will be a cheese souffle, Northumberland lamb, and a cream liqueur chocolate tart.
We reach another Friday gourmet feast as the week’s eight teams are whittled down to four. Today the amateur chefs must come up with their own recipes, and the judges are replaced by a team of inspectors. The menus feature hare, loin of pork, wild duck and venison. Only two counties will go through to the next round.