Heston's Great British Food

Heston's Great British Food

Premieres Thursdays at 8.30pm from 31 July on SBS ONE

Britain is home to some of the most iconic dishes in the world. From fish and chips to spotted dick, pie and mash to roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, these are the meals that have kept Brits full and happy for centuries.

In his new series, Heston's Great British Food, Heston explores the stories behind some of these British favourites. He examines why roast beef became Britain's national dish, how fish and chips were used to keep morale up during the war and over time what (or who) was the most unusual filling served up in a pie. On his travels around the country on this historical journey Heston discovers why these archetypal dishes are so deeply rooted in British culture. Unlocking their secret histories and exploring their origins he uses what he learns to help inspire an epic culinary salute to each one - all with a Heston twist of course.

In Heston's Great British Food, Heston serves up delights such as edible rock pools, sweet hot dogs, real jack-in-the-box pies and chocolate tea pots, plus many more amazing, unexpected and incredible creations in a celebration of all the things that have helped make British food great.

Episode One – Fish and Chips – Thursday 31 July at 8.30pm
Heston wants to reveal the incredible stories and discover the origins of the British classic dish fish and chips.

First stop Victorian Britain. Heston travels on the Bluebell Railway to discover the crucial role the new railway played in the history of the fish and chip shop. Determined to capture the very essence of the chippie, Heston attempts to blend an entire chippie menu, batter the results and create the chip shop experience in just one bite.

Heston attempts a favourite of Queen Victoria - baked cods head. It's an unusual looking dish, but goes down well with 21st century diners. Taking his cue from the fish's eye, Heston creates a totally realistic looking monster eyeball made with cod's cheek and tongue. 

For his main course, Heston takes inspiration from another fish and chip tradition of fish Fridays which were instigated by Henry VIII. Heston decides to make a delicious fake fish skin made with truffle, Madeira gel and sea urchin, sitting on a fillet of turbot. Covered in his own signature batter it looks like a classic piece of fried fish, but brings an extraordinary taste to every bite. When Heston turns his attention to the chips, he creates the perfect accompaniment to his own ground breaking triple cooked chips, with a chippie inspired soggy chip dip, it's a match made in chip heaven.

Heston also creates a final mind-blowing nod to his memories of seaside holidays with an edible rock pool. Heston masters a life-like mussel, complete with edible shell and a lobster flavoured star fish, surrounded with other rock pool favourites, from edible sea sponges, to drinkable rock pool water.

No one does food invention quite like Heston. With creations such as a giant eyeball of a monster fish, dessert chips and ketchup, an edible rock pool with mussels and mushy pea ice-cream, Heston's Great British Food will ensure that a trip to the local chippie will never seem the same again.
 
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