Glastonbury chef Ayesha Kalaji to represent Wales on Great British Menu

Ayesha Kalaji, chef patron of Queen of Cups in Glastonbury, will appear on Great British Menu tonight, representing Wales in the popular BBC cooking competition.

The first episode featuring Ayesha airs tonight, Tuesday, 25 February, on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. This marks her second major television appearance following her success on MasterChef: The Professionals in 2023.

This year's Great British Menu theme celebrates historical figures, with Ayesha's week focusing on icons from Wales. The winning dishes from the competition will be served at a grand banquet at Blenheim Palace.

Speaking ahead of the show, Ayesha said: "Gosh, isn't this exciting! I can't wait for the nation to see my menu and my style of food. It has been a true honour to look into some of the most incredible figures from where I come from. Everyone I have chosen to focus on means something personal to me, and adding food into the mix was a dream!"

Ayesha is known for her distinctive approach to Middle Eastern cuisine, drawing on her Jordanian and Welsh heritage while using locally sourced ingredients. She trained at Leith's, worked as a butcher at Parsons Nose, and gained experience in The Palomar, Sosban, The Good Egg, and Bubala before opening Queen of Cups in 2021.

Her Glastonbury restaurant, housed in a 17th-century coaching inn, has earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand for three consecutive years, the only restaurant in the area to do so. Ayesha has also won multiple awards, including the Spotlight Award for Middle Eastern Food at the Be Inclusive Awards, and was named one of Code's Top 100 Most Influential Women of the Year. She is currently nominated for Best Chef at the Trencherman Awards after winning Best Newcomer.

Queen of Cups has become a destination restaurant in Glastonbury, offering a fresh take on Middle Eastern flavours combined with seasonal British produce.

Ayesha's journey on Great British Menu will showcase her culinary creativity and deep connection to her heritage. Viewers can watch her compete on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.