Great British Menu 2024: Plates chef Kirk Haworth wins series 19 champion of champions title

Co-founder and chef of London restaurant Plates Kirk Haworth came out top overall for series 19 of Great British Menu after winning the champion of champions title.

The final episode of the chef competition saw Kirk and his fellow finalists in Paris as they put on an Olympic themed banquet for Team GB ahead of the upcoming games in the city.

Kirk was in charge of the menu’s dessert after his dish named Taste Of Unity which featured a cacao gateaux topped with sour cherry and toasted macadamia, coconut blossom ice cream, African pepper & vanilla caramel sauce won over judges. 

His pudding was inspired by each of the Olympic rings with each one representing a chosen flavour within its own continent.

The dish received rave reviews from the banquet attendees after it was served with Olympian Jessica Ennis-Hill who was a guest judge when Kirk’s pudding was selected also echoing the praise.

Unsurprisingly after guests were asked to score the banquet dishes of the night Kirk’s Taste Of Unity came out on top and the Plates chef was named the champion of champions of the competition.

Reflecting on his win Kirk said: “I've dreamt of this moment since I was a little boy so this is literally a dream come true for me.”

Great British Menu judge, Tom Kerridge added: “That desert was a knockout 10 out of 10, I'm so proud of all of the chef’s but for Kirk I'm double pleased.”

Representing the North West, co-founder of the plant-themed London restaurant Plates made the final week of the competition after he won his regional heat last month. 

Although longtime watchers of the show will know that this year's series isn't Haworth's only appearance on the show. He first took part in 2021 in series 16 and was the first plant-based chef to ever compete.

His father Nigel Haworth also previously competed on BBC's Great British Menu and won the show in 2009.

Following the airing of the final episode, Kirk gushed over his win in a post on Instagram while sharing a snap of him proudly holding up his Great British Menu trophy.

Summing up his experience on the show, he wrote: “What a wild ride, seriously so much work has gone into this whole competition very few will understand, every single course I wanted to be as good as the other & I didn’t stop until I thought that was achieved.”