Alastair Cooks Up A Storm For Chance To Shine

Alastair Cooks Up A Storm For Chance To Shine

Winning chef Alastair Cook applies the finishing touches to his dish as Ainsley Harriott looks on

©Chance To Shine

England captain Alastair Cook showed his support for Chance to Shine by taking part in Chance to Dine last week. The cricket themed charity 'cook-off' was held in the Long Room at Lord’s with former England captains Mike Gatting, Allan Lamb and former 'keeper Paul Nixon also lending their culinary skills to the occasion.

All four chefs prepared a dish for the event with Ainsley Harriott and Mark Nicholas watching on. With the help of the MCC chefs, self-confessed non-cook Paul Nixon conjured up a prawn cocktail for starters with Allan Lamb preparing his signature pan fried duck breast dish as a second course. Captain Cook then cooked herb crusted lamb with Gatt finishing off with a Sticky-Toffee pudding after rejecting the previous choice of a “Chocolate, Passion Fruit and Banana” concoction as it was "a bit posh for me!"

The cooking was certainly entertaining and involved a few mini-mishaps including a live lobster surprising Paul Nixon and Alastair Cook nearly setting off the fire alarm with a particularly 'well-done' piece of lamb.

During the dinner, guests voted on their favourite dishes with Alastair Cook coming out on top and Gatt was awarded the wooden spoon. A judge's panel was on hand to help the guests with their decisions including Ainsley, Jeremy King and Sir Tim Rice.