Camlough’s very own Melissa McCabe will be cooking up a storm as she takes part in The Great British Menu on BBC on Tuesday evening.
Melissa is a self-taught chef who only started her food truck Feast venture a year ago, but it has already garnered glowing reviews from food critics and customers alike all over Northern Ireland.
Melissa is one of four handpicked chefs from NI competing for the chance to bring a dish all the way to Paris. Melissa promises to put her heart on a plate and to showcase our world class local produce and producers.
Said Melissa: “I am proud to represent Northern Ireland. I have formed strong connections with local suppliers over the years since starting out on my own with my food truck – The Feast Wagon! And for any local readers, Street Feast.
“I want to make us all proud, I am so grateful for this opportunity having watched this show for years. Never a call you expect to get, this opportunity does not come by often so I plan to throw the kitchen sink at it!”
Melissa’s unique philosophy is centred around sourcing local produce wherever she is parked and giving people the opportunity to taste fine-dining food outside of the traditional restaurant setting.
Her passion for cooking started while working in a takeaway kitchen at only fifteen, however, Melissa’s ambitions soon led her to travel the world in search of new culinary experiences, working in Australia (Muttis in Melbourne) and New Zealand. Muttis is where Melissa realised that her life was destined to be spent in the kitchen and she fell in love with the industry.
Melissa returned to Northern Ireland to work her way up the ranks after her experiences overseas. Later she set off to the Loch Melfort on the west coast of Scotland, which led her to really appreciate the excellent produce that the UK has to offer.
She went on to work at the Michelin-starred The Glasshouse in Kew, where she developed her skills further, as well as at several other top restaurants in London. With her food truck, she has formed strong connections with markets and suppliers, allowing her to showcase the very best of Northern Ireland produce on her menu.’
The Great British Menu – BBC2 Tuesday, March 5 at 8pm.
