Culinary winner inspired by Addenbrooke’s chef

The winner of ITV’s’ Britain’s Best Dish was inspired to cook having spent time on a children’s cancer ward at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge.

Murray Grant was diagnosed with cancer aged 11 and underwent treatment on ward C2. It was here that he met Mick Law, the ward chef, who is on hand to make patients any dish they want, when they want.

While Murray was in hospital, he asked Mick to make a strawberry soufflé. When Mick showed him how to make it, it proved to be the inspiration for Murray’s competition entry. Murray, from Norfolk, won the final of ITV’s Britain’s Best Dish on Friday (30 October) with a strawberry soufflé with cream panna cotta and strawberry coulis.

 

The 15-year-old said: “When I met Mick, he said he could make anything, so I asked him to make a strawberry soufflé as a bit of fun. It was the inspiration for the competition – I was so excited to win. Chemotherapy affects your appetite - but having Mick around really helped. It’s brilliant that patients can have their own chef.”

Mick Law has been making specially tailored meals for children at Addenbrooke’s since 2003. He was the first chef of his kind in the country, although other oncology wards have since followed Addenbrooke’s and introduced their own specialist chefs. Mick’s role was created to accommodate the fluctuating appetite of cancer patients. While having courses of chemotherapy, patients can feel nauseous and will not necessarily be hungry for a set mealtime on the ward.  By having Mick on C2, the children eat when they want to eat, ensuring their nutritional needs are met.

Nigel Grant, Murray’s father, added: “As a parent, it was a very anxious time when Murray was having chemotherapy but it really helped seeing Mick seeking out Murray and asking what he would like to eat. C2 is bright and colourful, like Mick, it’s a lovely package. That extra bit of attention makes such a difference.”