Aven, Preston and Vetch, Liverpool collab event

Two multi-award-winning Northwest chefs are set to unite for a one-night-only dining experience inspired by their appearances on two of the UK’s leading cookery shows.

On Tuesday, 27 January at 7.00pm, Oli Martin, executive chef of multi-award-winning restaurant Aven in Preston, Lancashire, and a former competitor on MasterChef: The Professionals, will join forces with Dan McGeorge, 2021 GBM Champion of Champions, for a collaborative six-course dinner at Dan’s central Liverpool restaurant, Vetch.

Oli first appeared on MasterChef: The Professionals in 2018, narrowly missing out on the title, before returning in 2020 for MasterChef: The Professionals – A Festive Knockout, which he went on to win. The evening celebrates both chefs’ culinary journeys since their time on television and the distinctive styles they have developed in their respective kitchens.

This exclusive event will welcome just 26 guests, who will enjoy a carefully curated menu showcasing the chefs’ signature dishes and shared influences. Tickets are priced at £95 per person, with an optional wine pairing also available.

Menu highlights include:

From Oli Martin:

Baron Bigod gougère with truffle honey

Beef tartare, homemade hot sauce, wild garlic and smoked bone marrow

Skrei cod with caramelised artichoke, truffle and hogweed

Spruce honey, yoghurt, Douglas fir and Granny Smith apple

From Dan McGeorge:

Smoked cod’s roe croustade with ponzu trout roe and furikake

Monkfish with XO, kohlrabi and cockles

Guinea fowl with maitake and spelt

GBM-inspired dessert: Give The Dog A Bone

*Please note: this is a set menu, and the chefs are unable to accommodate allergies or dietary requirements.

To book, visit: https://www.vetchrestaurant.com/bookatable

Oli Martin said: “I’m really looking forward to working with Dan at his Hope Street restaurant, particularly following his recent excellent review by Jay Rayner for the Financial Times. We’ve both spent years refining our cooking since appearing on TV, and those experiences have clearly shaped our food and our careers. This dinner is a chance to share those influences and present some of our standout dishes to guests.”

Dan McGeorge added: “Cooking with Oli is going to be brilliant. I’m excited to spend time in the kitchen together and to create a truly memorable evening, giving us both the opportunity to showcase some of our favourite dishes.”