A food lover will have a salad he invented shown on prime time TV.
Amateur Macclesfield chef Nick Proctor’s duck and goat’s cheese medley was voted the nation’s favourite in a competition run by food giants Florette.
The 37-year-old’s creation will be seen by millions of TV viewers this summer in an advert for the firm.
Nick’s creation is actually based on a rather more complicated version he has made for several years including pan-fried duck, obscure goat’s cheese and homemade croutons.
But with only 60 seconds to make it from scratch, Nick had to make a fair few compromises and simplify it. Originally from Aberdeen, he moved to Macclesfield eight years ago after completing his PhD in pharmacy. He now works as a consultant for a pharmaceutical firm in Bollington.
Nick, of Bridge Street in the town centre, said: “I would always be hanging around the kitchen annoying my mum by trying to help.
“I learnt how to make hearty soups and stews, your staple Scottish fare.
“I’ve taken a bit of a ribbing from friends back home that my first competition win is for a salad.”
Nick, who shares his love of food with girlfriend Jo Taylor, 28, uses his scientific brain to help create wonderful culinary creations. He said: “I am very methodical about my approach to food and a bit of an obsessive trying to match the flavours and textures.
“There’s one dish, a chicken and chorizo risotto, I’ve been making every week in a bid to perfect it. I’ve been working on that for five years and it’s still not quite there.”
He added: “I’ve loved the experience of the Florette ad but I only get the kick out of cooking when it’s for friends and family, with a view to having a great night catching up.”
Jo is a part-time book-keeper and baker and runs a market stall called Jo-Jo’s Cupcakes.
Nick shares his duck and goats cheese medley with Express readers:
Ingredients:
1 bag Florette crispy salad
200g Rachels goat’s cheese
1 punnet of fresh raspberries
1 pack cooked crispy peking duck
1 pack ready made croutons
Method:
Empty leaves into big bowl, sprinkle duck, raspberries and croutons on top, tear up the cheese and drop it over the top. Get a big forkful of every part and enjoy.