The Fish Course – Tom Anglesea
Tom Angelsea, head chef at Hackney-based natural wine bar and contemporary restaurant The Laughing Heart, was the second chef to secure a place cooking at the banquet.
Inspired by Pink Floyd’s ‘Wish You Were Here,’ his fish course ‘Lost Souls in a Fish Bowl’ consisted of Orkney scallops cooked two different ways: roasted, and used to make a scallop ravioli filled with scallop mousse. Topped with English wasabi, discs of kelp and blowtorched baby turnip, the dish was finished with a dashi broth made with dried kombu and shiitake mushroom.
Created as a tribute to a close friend of Anglesea’s who sadly passed, and in honour of late, great musicians of the last 50 years, the delicate dish represented how fragile life is and combined unusual ingredients with impressive technique.
Anglesea received top scores, with judges Matthew Fort, Andi Oliver, Oliver Peyton and guest judge Kanya King CBE, CEO and founder of the Mobo Awards, describing the dish as “absolutely spot on” and “phenomenal”, whilst they were “blown away” by its relevant and emotional connection to the brief. Judge Andi Oliver recognised it as one of “loss and love, [and it was] actually quite emotional”.
