Jan Wilson Jones
Living: Ruthin
Occupation: Part time primary school teacher
Jan loves cooking and watching cooking programmes. She loves eating and drinking red wine especially with friends, which has lead to burning the food because they chat too much!
In her spare time Jan likes to read, sings in a choir, eat out and travel.
Favourite Recipe: That's a difficult one! Vanilla bread and butter pudding
Three words to describe themselves: red wine/cheese/choc-aholic, eager and friendly
Programme 7
Bouillabaisse Challenge
To create a traditional Bouillabaisse for René without a recipe or notes to fall back on!!
Jan was completely shocked that Dudley had taken away her notes.
"I've no idea what it's supposed to taste like and without a recipe to follow - you are so cruel!"
Although Jan nearly forgot the broccoli, Rene was impressed with her bouillabaisse and she was still in with a chance of winning.
"I enjoyed it but it was really challenging."
Final Challenge
A challenge to end all challenges! To prepare a 2 course meal, exactly as they would in a top restaurant, to 3 very important mystery guests.
Her main course was monkfish on a bed of ratatouille with Provencal tomatoes, followed by a honeyed pear with a sweet thyme sauce for pudding.
Jan decided to use all the things she had learnt during her time in Chez Dudley to create “a little bit of Provence on a plate”. And it really paid off.
The judges thought her main course was exceptional and that a lot of thought had gone into the presentation. The pear didn’t disappoint either. The judges were very impressed with the way she had used the produce from the orchard in such an inventive way. And in the end they decided that Jan’s menu was the better of the two.
Jan had won the coveted prize.
She was stunned. And to think that she nearly went out after the first challenge!
“It was a totally amazing feeling, it still feels like a dream.”
Programme 6
Herb Pudding Challenge
To combine fruits with herbs and create a mouth watering pudding that would impress Jeff Berard and Bryn Williams.
Jan was paired with Anna.
They decided to bake figs with a strawberry and lavender coulis served with vanilla mascarpone in a filo pastry box!!
Too complicated, perhaps? But with Jan flirting with the judge and Anna forgetting the pastry in the oven, it's a wonder they managed to get anything on the plate.
Oh boy! it looked good. But it still wasn't good enough to beat Nesta and Aldwyn's pudding.
Omelette Challenge
Simply, to create an omelette!
Jan succeeded in creating an omelette to impress the judges. But it wasn't as light as Anna's.
Jan had to face Aldwyn in yet another challenge to see who would win the last place in the final.
Challenge from René's Book
The highlight of the competition so far, was a special challenge from Ren�, to recreate one of his recipes - Sea Bass in Puff Pastry with Mushrooms and a Champagne Sauce.
Aldwyn and Jan went head to head in an attempt to cook the best dish for a place in the final.
"It was wonderful seeing the master René working and showing his skills, there was also a lot of laughing when the champagne cork exploded!!"
René complimented the two talented and skilful chefs. But in the end there could only be one winner. Jan's pastry was crispier than Aldwyn's and she secured her place in the final.
Programme 5
The Tapenade & Aioli Challenge
Following a trip to the market to buy the ingredients, the challenge was to make ...not the tapenade ...but the aioli!
Jan impressed Dudley with her pestle and mortar technique! But it wasn't enough for her to win the challenge.
The Pairs Challenge
Following a visit to the vineyard, the challenge was to name the wine and pair it with the fruit; name the cheese and pair it to the animal; and to finish, pair the cheese and wine!! Jan was paired with Nerys.
The other team were convinced that Jan and Nerys would win. They both speak French and have spent a lot of time living and visiting in France.
But they didn't recognise the wines and lost the challenge
The Food and Wine Challenge
To choose a wine and having had an evening to taste it, decide on a dish to cook for the surprise judge - Bryn Williams.
Jan chose the white wine and decided to cook the monkfish.
However, she wasn't happy.
"I've forgotten to add the tomatoes and I burned the onions, so it'll have to do without them"
With her head in her hands, Jan was convinced she would be going home. But no, Bryn chose the rosé instead and Jan was saved.
Programme 4
Max's Challenge
To create a special meal for Max Calligari - a starter and pudding. Jan chose Anna and Nesta to join her team. Anna because she was sneaky in the previous challenge and Nesta because of her wealth of experience.
Jan felt that they worked well together and were well suited to the tasks. "We all got to do what we like doing. I got to do the pudding." And the choice paid off - they won!
The Scorpion Fish Challenge
Jan is 'safe' because the other team didn't choose her. She didn't have to compete in the Scorpion Fish Challenge.
Programme 3
10 Tomato Challenge
To create a tomato salad with 10 different varieties of tomatoes - each one with their own unique taste. Jan was paired with Eleanor.
Jan was overwhelmed by the varieties of tomatoes, many that she had never seen before. They were both pleased with their tomato salad. "We'll eat it if Jeff doesn't like it".
The Mille Fuille Challenge
The task was to create a Mille Fuille with lemon curd and strawberry sauce. Jan felt that she was the most nervous of the four.
"The challenge is to make something that looks different from the others and if everyone else is better than me then I deserve to go home." But Jan needn't have worried because Rene chose her Mille Fuille as his 1st choice.
Programme 2
Jan was in shock and could not believe she was going to Provence. She thought Dudley and the judges had made a mistake! But soon she was on the aeroplane and on her way to Berard's cookery school!
"I nearly decided not to compete at all, but I'm so glad that Rob, my husband, and a bottle of wine changed my mind!"
One word to describe to experience - unforgettable!
The 5 ingredient challenge Jan baked the fish in paper and served it with a ratatouille risotto.
How did they feel they did? "I'm OK, but I didn't know what I was doing"
What did the judges think? Jan didn't reduce the wine, but apart from that it tastes very good.
Programme 1 - Round Two
Chicken Duxelles with a red wine and pate sauce.
Jan's Recipe
Serves 2Ingredients
Chicken:
2 large flat mushrooms - finely chopped
2 small onions - finely chopped
1 large garlic clove
2 chicken breasts
25g butter
layer of pate on the chicken
bunch of parsley
pinch of salt and pepper
chicken stock
Sauce:
2 small onions
1 garlic clove
¼ pt red wine (good)
100g pate
¼ pt single cream
butter
measure of damson wine
rosemary
bay leaf
pinch of salt and pepper
Method
Chicken
Melt the butter in a saucepan, add the onions and the mushrooms and cook on a low heat for 10 minutes. Add the parsley, salt and pepper.
In the meantime, open the chicken breast and flatten gently. Add salt and pepper and a layer of the pate. Place the duxelles (onions and mushrooms) in the middle of the chicken and roll the meat in foil and cook in the stock on a low heat for 20-30 minutes.
Sauce
Fry the onions and garlic in a little butter.
Add the red wine and herbs and leave to simmer for 10-15 minutes.
Beat the pate and the cream together and slowly add to the sauce.
Add the damson wine, season to taste and serve with the chicken.
Programme 1 - Round One
Vanilla bread and butter pudding
Judges opinion
Taste: great combination, light, apricots work well
Presentation: the yellow of the pudding goes well with the colour of the apricots