CAROLINE CULOT Norfolk chef Galton Blackiston's food may well be fit for a Queen but he will not be cooking it for her, after narrowly losing out in last night's TV cookery contest.

CAROLINE CULOT

Norfolk chef Galton Blackiston's food may well be fit for a Queen but he will not be cooking it for her, after narrowly losing out in last night's TV cookery contest.

All seven chefs looked tense as the results from the public vote were read out in a live final in London - and sadly Galton's treacle sponge pudding got knocked out by Marcus Wareing's egg custard tart.

Last night Galton told the EDP: “Naturally I'm disappointed my treacle sponge didn't eventually get through to be chosen for the Queen's 80th birthday lunch. I'm sure she'd have enjoyed it.

“Nevertheless the whole experience of being involved in the series has been fantastic for me. I never expected in my wildest dreams to get as far as I did and the whole experience, although exhausting, has been unbelievable.

“The other chefs have all been really friendly, and I particularly want to mention Antony Worrall Thompson who sent me a lovely letter to congratulate me on getting through to the final stages of the competition.

“I've made great friends with many of the competing chefs and learned a huge amount about working in front of the cameras. I've got to admit preparing the dishes and simultaneously engaging in witty banter with Jennie Bond and the other chefs was a skill I found a bit tricky at first.

“I want to thank everyone who voted for me. I've had so many kind messages of support from within the region which has been really touching. I think the fact I got as far as I did speaks volumes about the quality of our local produce and I hope helped further build the national reputation of this wonderful area of the country.”

The public voted throughout the week for various dishes with Galton's dessert going through on Thursday. A different chef was picked for each course, with three chefs, including Galton, missing out on cooking for the Queen.

The Queen's menu will be smoked salmon and potato pancakes from Ireland's Richard Corrigan, panfried turbot cooked by Welshman Bryn Williams, with venison from Scotland's Nick Nairn and Marcus Wareing's English egg custard tart for dessert.

The competition saw Galton beat celebrity chef Antony Worrall Thompson to get through to the national final but over the past week has seen him disappointed as, up to his dessert, none of his dishes were picked by the judges to go through to the public vote. At the last hurdle, he got a chance to cook for the Queen with his dessert - only to lose out last night.

In last night's programme, TV host Jennie Bond said to Galton: “It's been an up and down week for you.”

However, despite his disappointment, Galton will be back in Norwich today signing copies of his new book A Return to Real Cooking, at Borders bookstore in Chapelfield from 11.30am.

t See today's EDP for details of how you can enter our competition to win a meal for two at Galton's Michelin starred restaurant at Morston Hall with runners-up prizes of his new book.