Ex-Eccleshall Rugby Union player Niall Keating has been crowned the champion of BBC TV show Great British Menu 2020.
The former Colts captain and first team player made it all the way the star-studded Grand Final banquet at Whatley Manor in the Cotswolds where he served up a sublime fish dish that wowed guests so much, they voted him the ‘champion of champions’.
This year, the TV show centred on a children’s books theme with the likes of Tracey Beaker author Jaqueline Wilson, Grufallo writer Julia Donaldson and author of the Alex Rider series Anthony Horowitz attending the banquet.
Also in attendance were teachers and children who had won awards for literary writing.
Niall made it through to the final all the way from the regional rounds with his dish ‘Witches of the Northern Lights’ which included black tortellinis in the shape of a witches hat as well as a small cauldron filled with dashi broth, taking inspiration from the writings of English novelist Philip Paullman.
Niall has world across the world, cooking in many kitchens at esteemed restaurants in places such as San Francisco and Copenhagen, winning the Michelin European Young Chef of the Year Award in 2018.
This year’s edition of the TV competition was the biggest yet with 32 cooks going head to head for the title.
Eccleshall Rugby Club posted regular updates on its social media pages, cheering Niall all the way to victory.
Niall took to Facebook to thank everyone who supported him.
He said: “Thank you to every chef involved and thank you for the continued incredible support.”
You can now re-watch Niall’s win again on BBC iPlayer.
Click to follow Sport in Staffs for all our latest articles on:
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram
WE HAVE MOVED! 