Còcaire nan Còcairean
Monday 9 February, 8.30pm, BBC ALBA
Competition is heating up in the latest instalment of BBC ALBA’s new culinary show as two talented cooks meet at the semi-final stage in the quest to be crowned Còcaire nan Còcairean.
In next week’s programme, broadcast on Monday 9th February, two heat winners Denise McColl from Kilmarnock and Donald MacKay from the Isle of Lewis will battle it out for one hour to create a two-course dinner party for one with the last place in the final up for grabs.
Before preparing their dishes, both contestants are given one ingredient by presenter Cathy MacDonald that they must incorporate in their food - Denise using fresh pear and Donald using liqueur.
For her main course, Denise serves duck breast in a pear sauce with a selection of delicately cooked vegetables, followed by a tempting dessert of fondant chocolate with raspberries. Donald looks to impress the judges with a main course of sole and salmon roulade on a saffron beurre blanc accompanied by asparagus and new potatoes. For dessert, Donald chooses strawberries soaked in Glayva and served in a tulip basket with passion fruit crème anglaise.
Judging the competition is Alasdair MacLeod, an Executive Chef in the North Sea, Maureen MacLeod who was until recently proprietor of three island hotels and D K MacLean, head chef at a Highland restaurant.
The Còcaire nan Còcairean, will be awarded a Waterford Crystal Trophy and a trip to Cornwall where they will attend a four day course at Rick Stein’s Padstow Seafood School, one of the best cookery schools in Europe.
Còcaire nan Còcairean, presented by Cathy MacDonald, is broadcast weekly on BBC ALBA every Monday at 20:30 and is available on Sky channel 168 & Freesat channel 110.