Great British Menu 2024: Plates chef Kirk Haworth wins with dessert dish for Olympic banquet

Thursday’s Great British Menu finals episode (March 21) saw co-founder and chef of London restaurant Plates Kirk Haworth come out on top for his around the world inspired desert.

As part of the finals week, Kirk and his fellow regional champions have been trying to impress Great British Menu judges in a bid to get a dish on its prestigious Olympic banquet menu for Team GB ahead of the upcoming Paris games.

After wowing with his dessert on Thursday’s show, Kirk became the fourth and final chef to have a dish on the Olympic menu alongside Cornwall’s Ben Palmer and Birmingham chef Adam Smith and Londoner Kate Austen.

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. 

It was during the heat stages that Kirk first introduced his now winning dessert, named a Taste Of Unity which was inspired by each of the Olympic rings with each one representing a chosen flavour within its own continent.

The cacao gateaux topped with sour cherry and toasted macadamia, coconut blossom ice cream, African pepper & vanilla caramel sauce dessert received a perfect 10 at the time.

The second edition of the pudding scored tens across the board once again in the final as it received a dreamy 40 from the Great British Menu judges.

Judge Tom Kerridge said: “That dish was tremendous. It was wonderful. It was a real trip around five continents. You took us around the world and it did come together in unity. The Olympic spirit was truly shown in that dish.”

Guest judge and Olympian Jessica Ennis-Hill added: “How you brought all those different ingredients from around the world to beautifully balance that dish was just sensational.”

Reflecting on his win Kirk joked about how his dad Nigel Haworth, won Great British Menu in 2009, was eager for him to follow in his footsteps.

He said: “Just no words. This is a dream for me and now my dad can’t say anything to me because I did it the second time and he did it the second time. He was on text message last night saying ‘you have to win a course’.”

The final episode of Great British Menu will air on BBC2 tonight (March 22) at 7pm and will also be available on BBC iPlayer.