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Britain's Best Dish ended on a sweet note for Auberge Restaurant Guernsey head chef Dan Green last night when his peach tarte tatin pipped his Jersey rival to the post.
It was the ultimate Channel Island baking challenge on the new series of the popular ITV show, where professional chefs are putting their reputations on the line to create mouth-watering food for the TV judges.
Dan was up against Michelin-starred Mark Jordan from the Atlantic Hotel in Jersey, who's poached apple cider mille-feuille lost out to the Guernsey chef.
The peach tarte tatin split the judges. Restaurateur Ed Baines praised the unusual dessert but Michelin-starred chef John Burton Race felt lemongrass and ice-cream were not a delicious combination.
"The dish was a bit controversial on purpose," said Dan. "I wanted to play with flavours that wouldn't normally be put together to create something exciting and innovative. They love a bit of a debate on the show so I played up to that. I wanted the dish to be memorable." he added.
"It was just all such an amazing experience. I never imagined I would be on a national television show for my cooking and that I would beat a Michelin-starred chef."
It was wine-expert Jilly Goolden who cast the deciding vote, playing up to theatrics by saying: "I'm getting peach, peach is coming through."
Dan said the whole experience had been incredible and winning was the icing on the cake.
"Mark was a great guy, we got on really well. We both were determined to just enjoy the experience whatever the outcome as how often do you get to be involved in something so big? I must admit though, it was wonderful to hear my dish being called first," he said.
From Monday to Thursday this week two desserts and two main courses compete with one winner per course each day.
The final is this Friday, but there is no guarantee Dan will be called back. Only two desserts and two mains from the week's winners will be recalled for the South West regional final.
All the filming is complete but the local chef is keeping his lips sealed about the outcome.
"You will have to watch and see," said Dan.
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