Great British Menu winner’s ‘majestic’ chicken pie is crowned winner of Coronation Dish competition

He was a finalist in Masterchef: The Professionals and won the Great British Menu earlier this year – but now Adam Handling has yet another feather to add to his bow.

The British chef was announced as the winner of The One Show’s Coronation Dish competition on tonight’s episode.

Ahead of King Charles’ Coronation on 6 May, five chefs – who have all appeared on Masterchef or Great British Menu – were challenged to come up with a dish that could be served at The Big Lunch street parties up and down the country.

Adam’s winning creamy chicken pie recipe – which contains mushrooms, leeks and cheddar cheese – was voted for by the public and can be enjoyed either hot or cold.

Discussing what inspired him to develop the recipe, Adam explained: ‘I read that King Charles, if he could, would eat a pheasant pie everyday as it’s one of his favourite things. So I wanted to play on that.’

Adam Handling (centre) with The One Show hosts Jermaine Jenas, Alex Jones and Mary Berry following his win

The One Show's official Twitter account congratulated the chef on his win following tonight's episode

The One Show’s official Twitter account congratulated the chef on his win following tonight’s episode 

After tasting it for the first time, special guest host Mary Berry said: ‘You’ve cracked it. It’s wonderful.

‘Everybody is going to enjoy that and I hope our King and Queen [do too].’

Adam’s pie was up against a fried chicken sandwich, oyster mushroom filo tart, a cauliflower and spinach dome and some pork and prawn dumplings.

The programme first invited viewers to test out the recipes two weeks ago and then vote for their favourite – with the winner being unveiled this evening.

In the lead-up to the announcement, Adam told host Jermaine Jenas: ‘Who doesn’t love a chicken pie? It’s going to be great.

‘But looking at all these tables and the food looks completely delicious so I have no idea where it’s going to go.’

After Mary Berry announced the winner live on the show, Adam was visibly shocked by the accolade. 

He said: ‘Thank you, who would have guessed it? 

Mary Berry

Alex Jones

Pictured: Mary Berry and Alex Jones announced Adam Handling as the winner of the Coronation Dish competition this evening

Royal fans have hit out at the decision for quiche to be King Charles' signature Coronation dish - amid a national egg shortage. Pictured: Coronation Quiche, as created by Buckingham Palace cooks

King Charles III – who adores anything with eggs and cheese – has plumped for a ‘Coronation Quiche’ to celebrate being crowned

Ingredients for the ‘Majestic’ Coronation Chicken Pie: 

For the pie case

1 tbsp butter

1 tbsp plain flour

2 sheets ready rolled puff pastry (320g/11½oz each)

1 free-range egg, beaten

For the filling

6 chicken thighs, skinless and boneless

1 tbsp plain flour

1 tbsp vegetable oil

2 onions, quartered and sliced

1 leek, cut in half lengthways and sliced

250g/9oz chestnut mushrooms, cut into quarters

75g/2½oz unsalted butter

75g/2½oz plain flour

220g/8oz cheddar, grated

225ml/8fl oz chicken stock

250ml/9oz single cream

2 tsp salt

1 tsp black pepper

Visit the BBC Good Food website for the full recipe 

‘I’m super proud. I’m a massive royalist and this is an incredible part of history so it’s great to be a part of it.’

Adam’s pie will be the official dish of the Big Lunch 2023 – with organisers urging people to serve it alongside King Charles’ Coronation quiche. 

Last month, Buckingham Palace announced that the monarch has chosen the eggy dish – which features spinach, broad beans and tarragon – to mark his Coronation.

The tart was developed in close conjunction with the King and Queen Consort by the Royal Chef Mark Flanagan, at Buckingham Palace. 

Mr Flanagan has been in charge of royal meals since 2002. It is hoped people will be inspired to make the quiche and serve it up at the ‘Big Lunches’ being held in communities up and down the country over the Coronation weekend of May 6-8.

Quiche was chosen because it is considered a good ‘sharing’ dish to take to a street party and can be served hot or cold. 

It also suits a wide variety of dietary requirements and preferences and is considered to be ‘not too complicated to make or require costly or hard-to-source ingredients’.

The savoury flan can also be easily adapted to suit individual tastes and diets by adding or substituting ingredients, Buckingham Palace said.

‘We look forward to collaborating with chefs and amateur cooks for suggestions on that front,’ a spokesman said, adding: ‘Above all, it’s delicious!’

Former Buckingham Palace chef Darren McGrady said the King’s choice came as no surprise because Charles loves any food containing eggs and cheese.

Mr McGrady, who worked for the late Queen for 15 years, said he had made quiche for Charles many times.

‘It’s no surprise that the King Charles III has shared Coronation quiche to celebrate his Coronation,’ he wrote on Twitter.

‘His mother, The Queen loved chocolate, but The King loves anything with eggs and cheese.

‘Made this for him many times… especially with salmon he’d caught in the river Dee.’

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