02 April 2023 , 18:25
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Prue Leith has admitted that her Michelin Star restaurant was 'lumpy and ugly' compared to London's current eateries.
The Great British Bake Off legend, 82, has seen the London food scene evolve over her years in the industry.
The businesswoman and chef opened her first restaurant in Notting Hill way back in 1969, named Leith's, which was later awarded a Michelin Star.
Prue kept the restaurant until 1995 when it was sold and later closed, however.
Alongside her award-winning restaurant, the GBBO judge founded Leith’s School of Food and Wine to train professional and amateur cooks, and then sold the business in 1993 after much success.
GBBO's Prue Leith shares the big question all fans ask her about Channel 4 hit
Prue says her michelin restaurant served 'ugly food' (David Parry / Avast / SWNS)She has also set up a school in South Africa and also run, started, and been involved with initiatives to encourage cookery in the curriculum, cookery for vulnerable young people, and improving school meals.
While running her first restaurant, the Great British Bake Off star admitted that the food she served was 'lumpy, clumpy, and ugly' compared to the perfect dishes which are created and served up in London's hottest spots these days.
"When I see the food I was serving 30 years ago, it is so lumpy and clumsy and ugly and looks horrible. I can’t believe it,” she told My London.
“It’s extraordinary how food has improved, especially the look of food. I’m very pleased that ‘posh’ food has gotten simpler. There was a horrible stage about ten years ago where chefs couldn’t resist putting everything on to their plates.
The GBBO star is impressed by London's food service (Channel 4)“Smudges of this and dots of that, a powder of this, a cappuccino of that, and a lollipop of some parmesan nonsense. It was just too many flavours, so I love what’s happening now.”
It comes after Prue recently shared her amazement at the success of The Great British Bake Off across the pond in the US, during an appearance on Loose Women.
The Bake Off judge and chef, 82, sat down with the panel of Ruth Langsford, Denise Welch, Janet Street-Porter and Gloria Hunniford to discuss her new tour.
The South African-born food lover touched on the explosion in popularity of the Channel 4 show in the US as she shared the most common questions she gets from fans.
She told the panel the most regularly asked question is ‘Are Paul Hollywood’s eyes really that blue?’
Prue laughed: “Paul Hollywood’s eyes, Paul Hollywood's tan are the chief things. A lot about colour and specs and stuff.”
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