Award-winning Aberdeenshire chef Orry Shand returns to TV screens this week to represent Scotland in the national finals of BBC cooking show, Great British Menu.
Shand, from Ellon, will be cooking against top professional chefs from around the UK from tonight – Monday 20th April – on BBC2 and on iPlayer, all competing to secure a place at the Great British Menu Banquet at St George’s Hall in Liverpool.
This year’s competition theme is British movies and filmmakers. Orry’s dishes, revealed in the regional heats, take inspiration from films and actors such as Alan Cumming as the Nightcrawler in X-Men 2, Scottish independent film Limbo, Kelly Macdonald as Merida in Brave, and Robbie Coltrane as Hagrid in Harry Potter.
Shand won the Scottish heats of GBM by impressing a panel of judges including Michelin-starred chef Tom Kerridge and former Great British Menu champion of champions, Lorna McNee.
Shand said: “I’m really proud to have earned my place in finals week on Great British Menu and to be representing Scotland on national TV.
“The British movies and filmmakers theme is a great way to get creative and show off my culinary skills, so I’m hoping my journey will continue to the grand final banquet in Liverpool.”
2026 is set to be a big year for Orry, as he gears up to open his first independent restaurant in Royal Deeside this summer, where he is taking over the former Falls of Feugh restaurant, near Banchory, and reopening it as Falls by Orry Shand.
“Our work is already underway to create a very special destination restaurant in one of Aberdeenshire’s most popular beauty spots.
“Rooted in Royal Deeside, the restaurant will celebrate local produce and the region’s distinctive character. A set multi course tasting menu of up to 12 to 15 servings will blend Scottish ingredients with Nordic inspiration and classic French cooking techniques.
“We’re looking forward to welcoming our first guests this summer and will be opening reservations from Monday 20th April at 5pm.”
