THE RESTAURANT at a country house hotel in the Vale of Evesham is staging a series of evenings showcasing dishes created by its head chef when he won Masterchef: The Professionals last year.

Mark Stinchcombe, who works at Eckington Manor in the quaint village of Eckington on the banks of the River Avon, is the current Masterchef: Professionals champion and will be presenting dishes only before tasted by Masterchef judges Gregg Wallace, the double Michelin-starred chef Marcus Wareing and chef Monica Galetti.

There will be 11 evenings starting in October and continuing into November, December, February and March next year when diners can enjoy a six-course taster menu of dishes produced for the televised BBC competition.

Mark runs the kitchen with his wife Sue, who was a contestant on the BBC’s Great British Menu.

Owner and founder of Eckington Manor Judy Gardner said: “We couldn’t be more proud of the success Mark has achieved and we are very privileged to have Mark and his wife Sue heading up our kitchen here at Eckington Manor.

“Mark’s journey on Masterchef gripped the nation and catapulted him onto a national stage, inviting him into the sitting rooms of people up and down the country as they tuned in to follow his progress.

“Mark’s time on the show inspired a nation of foodies and we cannot wait to see him recreate his best-loved highlights, looking at the dishes with a fresh pair of eyes as he is inspired by the seasons.”

Eckington Manor’s Masterchef Menu evenings will take place on the first Friday and Saturday evenings of the month. The special tasting nights will be on October 7 and 8, November 4 and 5, December 3 and 4, February 3 and 4 and March 7 and 8.

Kicking off the run of 11 evenings, October’s Masterchef Menu will bring to the fore the fruits of the harvest season. Dishes will include fillet of beef and marrow bone crusted short rib, served with carrots and the charcoal emulsion, which presenter Gregg Wallace described as “outstanding”.

A popular favourite of judge Marcus Wareing, the scallops with roasted lemon, peas and buttermilk also features on the menu. This dish received critical acclaim from the double Michelin-star chef as he described it as “an amazing combination of flavours. I want to eat it again and again!”

Mark, who was described by Marcus Wareing as “a star of the future”, beat off tough competition from some of the top up and coming chefs in the country to win the Masterchef crown.

Anyone interested in tasting Marks delicious Masterchef dishes should visit ww.eckingtonmanor.co.uk or call 01386 751600.

• Eckington Manor is owned by Judy Gardner, who set up and developed Garner’s pickles and chutneys in Pershore before selling the business to Baxters.

• It has two pedigree herds – Aberdeen Angus and Highland Cattle – as well as a flock of sheep. It also grows its own vegetables, fruit and herbs for the restaurant which are picked freshly on the day of use.