The day Heston came to town, with YouTube video links
Challenge...Dan Gee beats his girlfriend Sarah Allen with celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal during the tea dunking challenge under the Old Grammar school. (Picture: Andrew Carpenter/001402-70)
CELEBRITY chef Heston Blumenthal created a stir when he came to Harborough to film a segment for a new Channel 4 TV show.
The three Michelin-starred chef is known for his experimental approach to cookery which has produced snail porridge and bacon ice-cream.
But it was good old British tea and biscuits which brought Heston to Harborough, as he held a competition to find the best dunking biscuit.
Choosing to film in Harborough because it is a ‘quintessentially English town’, Heston arrived to be met by a quintessentially English downpour.
But rain failed to dampen spirits or put off the dozens of people who arrived at the Old Grammar School armed with mugs to take part in the competition last Thursday.
Some spectators filmed the event, with a couple of the videos ending up on YouTube - here and here
The contest saw people come up in pairs to take part in dunking duels using a range of different biscuits.
And it was the chocolate digestive which came out on top, surviving an impressive 12 dunks and pipping the Hob Nob to the post.
Winner Harriet Haynes-Coote, of Northampton Road, Harborough, entered after seeing the story about Heston’s visit in the Mail last week.
She said: “I thought it would be great to head down and take a look. I never thought I would win, but it was great to meet Heston. It’s been a great way to get people having fun in the town on a rainy day.”
One of the runners-up, Clare Crook from Thatch Meadow Drive, Harborough, said: “It was exciting to see but I was a bit nervous to see Heston Blumenthal. I was shaking all the way through it.”
After filming was complete Heston stayed behind to sign autographs and pose for photos with fans.
He told the Mail afterwards: “Harborough has been voted one of the best towns in the UK, so we thought it would be a great place to do this, in the heart of the country.
“It’s been a great day, the crowd was really up for it and made it a great laugh, which is what you want. Food is all about pleasure and having fun.”
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Weather for Market Harborough
Monday 20 May 2013
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 11 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 8 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: North
