A taste of television fame

A keen amateur chef is to appear on a television programme to find Britain’s best dish.

Miss Esme McQuillan, of King Street, Southwell, features on the ITV programme Britain’s Best Dish in the midlands heats of the competition.

She created a starter of fried pigeon breast with Stilton and strawberry coulis.

Miss McQuillan, 38, was asked to enter the programme after applying for the Channel Four series Come Dine With Me.

She said: “I pick my daughter, Ruby, up from school about the time Britain’s Best Dish is on so I had never watched it before.

“I selected the dish because I thought it reflected the region. I went to the creameries at Colston Bassett and bought my cheese there and I chose pigeon because we have got some fantastic game in the Midlands.”

Miss McQuillan said she had tried the dish out on her partner, Mr Nick Coupe, and friends and family.

The episode featuring Miss McQuillan will be aired on Wednesday, August 25, on ITV 1 at 5pm.