Ep 3. Hollings and The Cheese Wheel

In Million Pound Menu season 1 episode 3, we are introduced to a new set of aspiring restaurateurs hoping to win over investors and secure their spot in the lucrative food industry. This week’s episode features two teams: Hollings and The Cheese Wheel.

Hollings is a street food concept created by two friends who are passionate about offering delicious, high-quality dishes made with locally-sourced ingredients. Their menu is influenced by their travels around the world and features dishes such as Tahitian ceviche, Korean fried chicken and veggie burgers made with beetroot and black beans. The team is looking for £100,000 in funding to take their business to the next level and expand into a permanent restaurant space.

The Cheese Wheel, on the other hand, is a more niche concept that centers around a traditional Italian dish called pasta al formaggio. This dish is made by tossing freshly cooked pasta in a giant wheel of Parmesan cheese, allowing the cheese to melt and coat the pasta with its creamy goodness. The team behind The Cheese Wheel includes three childhood friends who have been working together for years to perfect this dish and bring it to a wider audience. They are seeking £300,000 to open a permanent pasta bar in London.

As the episode begins, both teams must present their concepts to a group of investors and industry experts in a public space, hoping to draw in enough interest to secure a spot on the show. They must also whip up a sample of their food for the judges to try, hoping to impress them with the flavors and presentation of their dishes. Both teams are confident in their concepts, but it remains to be seen whether they can win over the investors and secure the necessary funding to move forward.

Once the teams are selected to move forward, they have just three days to open their pop-up restaurants and serve their food to the public. The stakes are high, as the investors will be judging not just the food but also the team’s ability to manage a restaurant under pressure. Both teams encounter some hiccups along the way, but they also receive high praise from diners who appreciate the unique offerings and stellar flavors.

At the end of the three-day pop-up period, the investors must make their final decisions about whether to invest in Hollings or The Cheese Wheel. They consider a range of factors, from the quality of the food to the team’s ability to manage the business and stay organized. The tension is high as the teams await the final verdict, hoping to hear that they have secured the funding they need to move forward with their dreams.

Overall, this episode of Million Pound Menu offers a fascinating look at two very different restaurant concepts and the challenges that come with starting a new business. We see the ups and downs of the restaurant industry, from the stress of running a busy kitchen to the joy of seeing diners enjoy your creations. As always, the investors bring their own unique perspectives to the table, and it’s fascinating to see which team they ultimately choose to support.