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Perfect...

Season 1 2011

  • 2011-05-01T23:00:00Z on UKTV Food
  • 45m
  • 2h 15m (3 episodes)
  • United Kingdom
  • Home And Garden
What's the secret behind a perfect roast dinner, can anything beat macaroni cheese for a simple supper, and is there a place for fresh fruit in a victoria sponge filling? It's up to our celeb chefs to find out on Perfect...

18 episodes

Series Premiere

2011-05-01T23:00:00Z

1x01 Chinese

Series Premiere

1x01 Chinese

  • 2011-05-01T23:00:00Z45m

Legendary Chinese chef Ken Hom and rising star of Asian cookery Ching He Huang will be cooking perfect Chinese cuisine tonight.

What better way to kick off the show than with a chow mein? Both our chefs opt for this classic noodle dish for the first category, but which will the judges prefer - Ken's Hong Kong style, or Ching's chicken and mushroom?

Ken likes nothing more than a simply steamed fish Cantonese style, whereas Ching prefers beef in an oyster sauce. Both come with fried rice, of course.

Ken and Ching see the episode off with food fit for a Chinese banquet. But which will impress the most - Ken's crispy pork belly in lettuce cups, or Ching's fragrant duck?

2011-05-02T23:00:00Z

1x02 Family Suppers

1x02 Family Suppers

  • 2011-05-02T23:00:00Z45m

Gastropub guru Paul Merrett comes face to face with global foodie Allegra McEvedy in the battle of the perfect family supper.

What could possibly beat Allegra's Cumberland sausage ring with parmesan mash 'n gravy? Paul's sausages with cheesy champ and onion rings might...

Paul's confident that despite a slightly longer preparation time, his smoked haddock fishcakes will triumph over Allegra's four cheese macaroni with crispy bacon bits.

A very carnivorous Allegra pits her meatfeast pizza with American slaw against Paul's curry night platter.

2011-05-03T23:00:00Z

1x03 Roasts

1x03 Roasts

  • 2011-05-03T23:00:00Z45m

Brian Turner and Mark Sargeant prove that they can cook perfect roasts whatever the occasion.

It's roast beef all round as Brian and Mark sweat it out in the kitchen to create the perfect Sunday lunch. But bearing in mind his Yorkshire background, how can anyone beat Brian's Yorkshire puds?

It's a tough battle between Mark's lemon and herb roast chicken, and Brian's lamb pencil fillets with mustard and balsamic.

Mark opts for an elegant roast duck breast on a bed of Jerusalem artichoke risotto, while Brian goes for roast rack of veal with a soy glaze and creamy leeks.

1x04 Pasta

  • no air date45m

Theo Randall and Aldo Zilli aim for culinary glory with their tagliatelle, spaghetti and rotolo delights.

It's the battle of the bolognese, as Theo serves up ragu di manzo with spaghetti and Aldo pours his classic bolognese over tagliatelle.

Can Theo's meatless mushroom ragatoni beat Aldo's carbonara?

It's time to show off with Theo's rotolo di spinaci and Aldo's open lobster and crab raviloi - both real show stoppers.

1x05 Chicken

  • no air date45m

It's welcome back to Allegra McEvedy, who is up against Tom Kerridge this time around. Never again will you be stuck for innovative chicken dishes thanks to these two.

While Tom is twice-cooking his roast chicken, Allegra is twice-stuffing hers for roast chicken with parsley potatoes.

Tom shares his secret for an easy to assemble chicken kiev, and Allegra makes her own cumin croutons to go alongside her seared chicken liver.

Allegra's chicken tostadas or Tom's fancy chicken in a bun? It's a tough call.

1x06 Takeaway

  • no air date45m

Nothing quite hits the spot like a takeaway on a Friday night. Ching He Huang and new boy Aaron Craze master their favourites for you to create at home.

Both Ching and Aaron love their sweet and sour, but which will our judges prefer - Ching's sichuan prawns, or Aaron's Hong Kong pork?

Ching shows us how to make quick and easy wonton soup, and Aaron's West Indian chicken roti couldn't be simpler.

It's a tough call between Ching's soft shell crabs with mango noodle salad, and Aaron's roast jerk salmon on a sweet potato salad.

1x07 Beef

  • no air date45m

In his first appearance on Perfect..., Michelin man Michael Caines takes on Tom Kerridge in search of the perfect beef recipes.

Michael's sirloin with hand cut chips and BBQ sauce, or Tom's fillet steak with triple cooked chips and béarnaise - which beef + chips + sauce combo will our judges go for?

Michael prefers to stir-fry beef in a sweet chilli sauce, whereas Tom stacks his beef up in a burger with cheese, bacon and a speedy tomato relish.

We're spoilt for choice - Michael's chateaubriand with celeriac puree, or Tom's braised beef shin with bone marrow?

1x08 Mezze

  • no air date45m

Growing up in a Greek-Cypriot household gives Maria Elia a headstart in the mezze battle. But Allegra McEvedy has a few tricks up her sleeve, including some very tasty olive oil potatoes...

Both Maria and Allegra opt for falafels - you'll find Maria's here, and Allegra's here - so it's all down to how good the hummus is.

Maria's baked feta couldn't be simpler, while Allegra's olive oil potatoes with crispy shallots, merguez and tomato fattoush offers myriad textures.

Maria's marinated lamb with tahini sauce, kethtedes and braised broad beans, and Allegra's kibbeh with tahini and olive sauce, pickled cabbage and flatbreads both make for impressive platters.

1x09 Brunch

  • no air date45m

Charita Jones brings her taste for American breakfasts over to the Perfect... studio, a course which globetrotter Allegra McEvedy also knows a lot about.

Both Allegra and Charita kick off with eggs benedict - will smoked salmon eggs benedict or gammon eggs benedict be the best accompaniment?

Allegra takes inspiration from her New York days for her boomtime pancakes, while Charita serves American style French toast.

Prepare yourself for Allegra's mega Mexican brunch, followed by a corned beef hash from

1x10 Italian

  • no air date45m

Aaron Craze and Theo Randall both think that they're the master of Italian cuisine. Risotto, gnocchi and pizza play a big part in this episode.

Theo goes for simplicity with his porcini risotto, while Aaron beefs his seaside risotto up with plenty of fresh seafood.

Theo's fresh gnocchi with tomato sauce, or Aaron's calzone?

Porchetta, a moist boneless pork roast, is on Aaron's menu, while Theo serves roast lamb.

1x11 Puddings

  • no air date45m

There's nothing like a good pud to end a slap-up meal. Bill Granger and Paul Merrett, both sweet-toothed fiends, are ready and raring to show off their favourite treats.

It's the battle of the crumbles. Bill opts for blackberry and apple crumble, while Paul goes for the other classic combo of rhubarb and apple crumble. Custard or ice cream?

Bill gives his butterscotch pudding a tropical twist, while Paul keeps it traditional with a treacle tart.

Time to show off! Can Bill's extravagant chocolate mousse cake beat Paul's sophisticated cream cheese souffle?

1x12 Indian

  • no air date45m

Us Brits love an Indian, and who better to cook it than experts Anjum Anand and Cyrus Todiwala?

Both chefs have picked chicken tikka masala for the opening round. How will the judges pick a winner out of Anjum's masala and Cyrus's masala?

Cyrus's samosa or Anjum's kathi rolls - which would you prefer to make yourself?

Be prepared for a spectacular curry cook-off, as Cyrus pits his fragrant lamb biryani against Anjum's crab curry.

1x13 Afternoon Tea

  • no air date45m

Perfect celebrates the quintessentially English tradition of finger sandwiches, delicate cakes and cups of tea by inviting Matt Tebbutt and Jo Pratt to whip up their best afternoon treats.

Matt chooses a savoury cheese scone, controversially serving it with a homemade tomato jam, while Jo sticks with an old favourite - scones with clotted cream and berry jam.

Matt adds a touch of class to his florentines with sour cherries and pistachios, while Jo puts her cherries into a tray of pecan brownies.

Matt serves smoked eel sandwiches followed by battenburg cake, and Jo finishes her tarragon chicken and poppy seeds sandwiches off with mini cream slices. And tea, of course.

1x14 Thai

  • no air date45m

Bill Granger is back and this time he's up against newbie Tom Kine, an Asian food expert who's got plenty of spices up his sleeve.

It's got to be Thai green curry. Both Bill and Tom opt for chicken, so it's all in the method for this round. You can see Bill's here , and Tom's here.

Thai cooking doesn't have to be tricky. Bill whips up a quick pork pad see ew, while Tom goes for a simple roast prawn and watermelon salad.

Bill gives Tom's laquered quail a run for its money with his whole Baked fish with sticky caramel sauce.

1x15 Cakes

  • no air date45m

Home baking gets the Perfect treatment this week, as chefs Michael Caines and Catherine Fulvio battle for the sweet taste of success.

You can't get a more classic cake than a Victoria Sponge - but which version will reign supreme? Will it be Michael's victoria sponge with crème chantilly, or Catherine's Limoncello victoria sponge?

Catherine and Michael show you how to have your cake and eat it, with these simple, delicious recipes. It's classic versus a little crazy, as Catherine's apple and olive oil cake challenges Michael's banana cake with cream cheese frosting.

Michael gives Catherine the ultimate challenge, as he pits a layered raspberry sponge cake with vanilla moussline against her towering Black Forest pannacotta cake.

1x16 Fish

  • no air date45m

There is something fishy going on in this week's competition, as Mark Sargeant and Kenny Atkinson do battle in the kitchen.

Mark and Kenny challenge each other with a foolproof fish pie. Kenny uses smoked kippers in his Craster fish pie, whereas Mark gets cheesy with a Parmesan-crusted fish pie.

Mark cooks an easy-squeezy citrus squid salad, whilst Kenny whips up a pan-roasted cod with curried mussels.

Mackerel and Scallops get the ultimate make over with Mark's mackerel pasty with pickled cucumber salad battling Kenny's pan-roasted scallops with confit chicken wings.

1x17 Pies

  • no air date45m

Who ate all the pies? Matt Tebbutt and Valentine Warner compete to create the perfect crust.

Matt takes steak pies upmarket with a steak, oyster and porter pudding, whereas Valentine keeps it simple with his classic steak and kidney pie.

t's London versus Latin America as Matt's cheesy bacon and leek pasty challenges Valentine's beef empanadas for the top slot. Thankfully, they both taste great with a beer.

Picnics and pies are the perfect combination in Matt's chicken and veal picnic pie - but will it triumph against Valentine's mum's recipe for rabbit and cider pie?

1x18 Chocolate

  • no air date45m

What a great episode to finish on...the battle of the chocoholics, Mark Sargeant and Maria Elia.

Mark's layered chocolate mousse is up against Maria's spiced mousse with hazelnut praline.

Mark's (slightly) healthy poached pears with chocolate sauce has tough competition in Maria's cardamom chocolate cakes

Be prepared for a gut-busting chocolate baked alaska from Mark and oh-so-pretty chocolate and clementine macaroons from Maria.

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