Heston Blumenthal not consulted about Little Chef menu roll-out

Heston Blumenthal, chef-patron of the three-Michelin-starred Fat Duck in Bray, has revealed that he was not consulted by Little Chef about a planned nationwide rollout of the menu he devised as part of Channel 4 documentary Big Chef Little Chef.

Last week, Little Chef chief executive Ian Pegler said the company was planning on taking the menu across the country after the success of a trial in Popham, Hampshire.

But, speaking to Caterersearch at the Craft Guild of Chefs Awards last night, where he was honoured with a Special Award, Blumenthal said he was surprised that the roadside restaurant chain had announced plans to roll out his menu nationwide without further discussions with him first.

Although he is shortly to meet with the Little Chef bosses again, Blumenthal said that he had not had any contact with the company since last December, when the programme was aired.

Blumenthal's menu at the Popham restaurant includes dishes such as braised ox cheeks, coq au vin and Hereford steak and Abbot Ale pie.

Blumenthal also said that he was still waiting for a report from the Health Protection Agency to confirm the source of health scare that led to him closing the Fat Duck for two weeks earlier this year.

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By Amanda Afiya

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