Posted by Norfolk Daily Press, UK on October 31, 2009 at 09:36:37:
Young Murray boasts Britain's best dish
KATE SCOTTER
A bit of creativity with leftovers from a cookery class has helped a city youngster discover Britain's best dish.
Young Murray Grant, from Sprowston, has won ITV's Britain's Best Dish competition with his strawberry and cream soufflé with a cream panna cotta and strawberry coulis.
The 15-year-old, who battled against cancer when he was just 11, came up with the idea for the dish after experimenting with some leftover ingredients and practising at home.
The Sprowston Community High School pupil, who attends City College Norwich one day a week for an NVQ in catering, said he was “gobsmacked” to win.
He said: “I couldn't believe it. From 3,000 people who entered, I got through everyone.
“You need a little bit of luck with everything and it was quite a clever dish, but I never dreamt I was going to win.
“It was amazing to film the whole series and I really enjoyed the experience and meeting the judges.”
Murray's success comes after he battled against Hodgkin's lymphoma, which he was diagnosed with in June 2006.
The illness saw him undergo six courses of chemotherapy - two at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge and four at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.
In the final, screened at 5pm last night, the schoolboy's dish, which consists of just sugar, egg whites and a punnet of strawberries, had to win over the studio audience as well as the judges.
His college tutor Andrew Cooke said: “We're all really proud of him. He's quite inventive and brings a lot of edge and skill to his cooking.
“His soufflé isn't a tricky dish to make, it's a tricky dish to invent and that's what he's done. If you don't get it right and have any amount of fat in the egg whites then it won't work.”
During his treatment, Murray, who was inspired to cook by Jamie Oliver, was supported by children's cancer charity CLIC Sargent, which is currently running a 'Fit to Eat' campaign, calling on hospitals to provide food in a flexible and responsive way which is age appropriate, nutritious and appetising.
Murray's recipe now features in the Britain's Best Dish book.
To see his recipe go to www.itv.com/lifestyle/food/britainsbestdish Tools & services
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