MasterChef winner to open restaurant in Dorset

The 2009 MasterChef winner, Mat Follas, is set to open his own restaurant in Dorset.

Follas, an IT engineer from Bridport, Dorset, has taken over the lease of the former Black Cat Bistro in Beaminster and plans to relaunch the 34-seat restaurant as Wild Garlic next month.

The restaurant will be housed in a three-storey, Grade II-listed, 16th century property in the centre of Beaminster.

The menu at the Wild Garlic will focus on locally sourced ingredients as well as wild foods. Some of the dishes Follas created during the MasterChef programme will be featured on the menu, including crab Thermidor and smoked ccallops.

Follas said he was “delighted to have found such a great property” in his local town after the completing the deal, which was handled by Christie & Co.

Follas was recently rumoured to have been offered a job at Raymond Blanc’s two-Michelin-starred Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons in Oxfordshire but said the job offer had been “over-egged”.

The 2008 MasterChef winner James Nathan recently became sous chef at the Michelin-starred Bath Priory, which has been taken over by Michael Caines. Nathan works under head chef James Sheridan.

Guide Girl: MasterChef 2009 winner Mat Follas says Raymond Blanc job offer 'over-egged' >>

Interview with MasterChef 2008 winner James Nathan >>

Masterchef: An interview with John Torode and Gregg Walace >>

By Kerstin Kuhn

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