Amber Francis, head chef and senior educator at Christ's College Finchley, became a Great British Menu Champion of Champions after competing in the 20th anniversary series. Her dessert titled ‘Books, the Mind’s Food’ was voted the favourite dish of this year’s show.

An ambitious chef from a young age, Francis started her career in fine dining where she won awards for her food and appeared on an earlier series of Great British Menu. However, in 2023 she made the move to more closely align her work with her community values, becoming a school chef. 

During the podcast episode Amber shares advice for anyone entering a competition, she also highlights the importance of feeding children in schools and she explores the joy in food at every level. The podcast episode also  features:

• Keeping the biggest secret in your career, months after filming wraps but before the world finds out.
• What it really takes to train for Great British Menu while juggling a full-time chef job.
• The teamwork, mutual support, and competitive spirit behind the scenes, why it’s not just about the food, but the people you cook alongside.
• The creativity marathon: building not just dishes, but props and stories that connect plate to person.
• Moving from the Ritz London and fine dining into the world of school food - what Amber learned, what she thinks needs to change, and why it gives her the ultimate sense of purpose.
• The emotional highs and lows of competition: picking yourself up when things don’t go your way, and what it feels like when your dessert is crowned best of the best.