A brand new primetime show from everyone’s favourite sweary TV chef is due to hit our screens this week, merging the worlds of cooking shows with the competitive, on-screen world of business TV.
Called Gordon Ramsay’s Future Food Stars, it’s being billed as an Apprentice-style series (but for foodies), with contestants battling it out to win a £150,000 fund to help kickstart their business.
And we’ve been tipped off that early episodes airing this week will feature a Manchester-based entrepreneur keen to make her mark.
Enter Steph Buttery, the founder of Japanese inspired sour soft drinks brandsChu Lo – hand-picked by Gordon Ramsay as one of twelve of the UK’s best up-and-coming food and drink entrepreneurs.
ADVERTISEMENT
Steph will take on the weekly cookery and business-led challenges as she battles it out against other budding entrepreneurs for the chance to win an investment from Gordon himself.
Speaking of the experience, she said: “I can’t wait for the series to launch and to see the reaction from viewers.
“It was an incredible opportunity and hopefully people are thoroughly entertained. For anyone considering applying, go for it!”
ADVERTISEMENT
Who is Gordon Ramsay’s Future Food Stars contestant Steph Buttery?
The Manchester-based entrepreneur has been named as one of the first contestants to appear on the first-ever BBC series of Gordon Ramsey’s Future Food Stars.
Steph is the founder of the Japanese-inspired sour soft drinks brand,Chu Lo, which she launched in 2019 after serving twelve years in the Royal navy.
Following her passion for the unique Japanese flavours she enjoyed whilst deployed in the Far East, Steph set out to create her own line of non-alcoholic, vegan-friendly, gluten-free, sour soft drinks here in the UK.
ADVERTISEMENT
Steph Buttery is a former Navy staffer and the founder of the Japanese-inspired sour soft drinks brand,Chu Lo. / Image: Supplied
Today, Chu Lo now has four tantalising flavours available in apple, lemon, peach and cherry and the business has since secured huge deals with industry giants including YO! Sushi and Belong Gaming Arenas.
Since February this year, Chu Lo Drinks has also been supplying outlets across the US and EU.
But Steph’s success doesn’t stop there. Most recently, she joined the ensemble of business owners for the first series of Gordon Ramsay’s latest TV show endeavour, Gordon Ramsay’s Future Food Stars.
Steph joined the series to step out of her comfort zone and challenge herself against other keen business minds.
Contestants on the show come from all across the UK. Worcestershire chef Amit has created a range of bottled Indian sauces from his family recipes and Londoner Leah creates free-from brownies for those with allergies and inolerances.
Ex-Navy chef Jamie has a mussel bar in Macclesfield and PR graduate Asher runs a jam, chutney and marmalade business from her home in the Rhondda Valley. Meanwhile, Jen from Castleford creates low-sugar bottled cocktails whilst Londoner Matthew wants to set up a zero-waste restaurant.
There’s also health coach Bola, who has created low-calorie apple cider vinegar seltzers, Michelle from Perthshire selling Scottish steamed puddings (also known as clootie dumplings), Londoner Victoria and her award-winning plantain and vegan snacks, and Italian Vincenzo who has set up his own artisan smoked salmon brand.
Last but not least, there is also Valentina who is launching a vegan cake mix and cafe in the capital.
When is the release date?
Coming soon to BBC One, the eight-part series sees the formidable chef set a series of challenges for twelve budding entrepreneurs as they compete to win a £150,000 investment for their business.
The series kicks off on Thursday 31 March on BBC One at 9pm. It will also be available on BBC iPlayer.
Feature image – Youtube / Supplied
News
Yellow weather warning could bring ‘winds of up to 80mph’ and heavy rain to North West
Danny Jones
Autumn is well and truly underway as colder temperatures have already started to descend on the UK. Now, though, high winds and heavy rain are expected to hit various regions across the nation.
The Met Office announced a yellow weather warning on Monday afternoon, predicting that strong gusts of winds exceeding 55mph are set to affect northern and western parts of the UK on Wednesday.
Meteorologist Alex Deakin said Brits should prepare for a “blusterous and boisterous” week ahead.
Strong winds are expected across parts of the UK on Wednesday 🌬️
A yellow weather warning can encompass everything from injuries and danger to life caused by flying debris, to structural damage, disruption to travel and public transport, as well power cuts and more.
‘Persistent rain and stronger winds’ are already said to be battering parts of Northern Ireland and Scotland, before beginning to sink into more central areas of the UK from Tuesday onwards.
With rainfall expected to measure in at between 30-50mm across western Scotland – as much as 80mm across some mountainous areas – the low pressure is due to hit the northern and western parts of England on Tuesday night.
Experts have warned that while they are yet to nail down the exact details of peak wind strengths, they could easily surpass 55-65mph.
Deputy Chief Meteorologist Rebekah Sherwin said that while gales around the Irish Sea and eastern Scotland are pretty typical for this time of year, conditions may not stay localised as the week goes on.
“There is a chance the deep low pressure system will bring gusts of 70 to 80 mph to northern parts of the UK on Wednesday”, says Sherwin, warning that “should this develop, disruption to travel and wind damage would be more likely. In addition, heavy rain in the northwest may make travelling more difficult.”
Stronger gales will remain on the cards for the North West as well as some significant rain, with the heaviest showers expected to fall on more western regions.
Best get weighing those bins down and preparing for a potential work-from-home day.
Warning after terrifying video shows party decorations catching fire in a Manchester bar – again
Daisy Jackson
Fire crews in Greater Manchester are warning bars and restaurants to be careful after footage emerged of party decorations catching fire above customers’ heads.
In a similar incident to the New Year’s Eve blaze at One Eight Six in Manchester city centre, the CCTV shows a celebratory sparkler in a cake setting the decorations alight.
In just seconds, the entire ceiling is ablaze, with terrified customers scrambling for the exit.
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue service released the video in a bid to raise awareness and prevent any similar incidents at hospitality venues in the city-region.
Don’t let this happen to your customers in your bar or restaurant
Indoor fireworks next to flammable decorations = 🔥🔥🔥
— Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service (@manchesterfire) October 3, 2022
The shocking incident occurred in a shisha bar in Rusholme, in May this year.
Fortunately, no one was seriously injured, but several people were taken to hospital with suspected burns.
In both this instance and in the One Eight Six incident, the cause of the blaze was determined as being ‘indoor fireworks igniting decorations, which then burned rapidly allowing the fire to spread’.
GMFRS is now working with licensing teams from the 10 councils in Greater Manchester to offer free information and advice sessions to owners and managers of cafes, bars, pubs and restaurants in advance of the Halloween, World Cup and the Christmas party season.
The fire tore through the bar in Rusholme in seconds. Credit: GMFRS
Leon Parkes, GMFRS’s director of prevention and protection, said: “Hospitality venues have a responsibility to keep their customers and staff safe and at Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service we want to help businesses to understand their legal responsibilities and take action to protect their property, staff and customers from fire.
“We have seen a couple of instances in the past year in Manchester where fires have broken out in venues caused by indoor fireworks setting light to decorations.
“While fortunately fires don’t occur very often, the impact of a fire can be devastating and many businesses don’t recover.
“Pubs, bars and other venues will be very, very busy during October, November and December. It’s important that staff prepare by getting trained in what they need to do and that they don’t inadvertently create a fire risk.
“We know that the last two years have been really difficult for hospitality businesses and hopefully the forthcoming World Cup and Christmas period will be a boost for them. We gave out fire safety advice in May last year as Covid-19 restrictions eased and we are now working with our partners to help hospitality businesses be safe and stay safe.”
Georgina Pellant -
31st March 2022 
