A FAMILY-owned Wirral restaurant has been selected to appear on ITV’s new series Come Dine With Me: The Professionals.
Kerala Kitchen South Indian Restaurant & Bar based on Arrowe Park Road in Upton were invited to appear on the Channel 4 show which is set to air on Friday, July 15 at 5pm.
The show will reveal the dramas and moments between restaurant owners and husband and wife Sabuji Rocky and Jisha Sabuji in a three-day filming scenario.
Speaking of the show, Sabuji Rocky told the Globe: “We are dreading to see ourselves on the big screen but believe we have showcased South Indian Cuisine and Kerala culture.
“It was an exciting new experience, and we believe this is recognition of our business and the hard work over the last 16 years.
“We were so lucky to be selected in the show from hundreds of restaurants from Merseyside area.”
The show features Mr and Mrs Sabuji, their son Pranav Rocky Sabuji, daughter Athira Ela Sabuji along with manager, Robin Paul Varghese, and kitchen staff, Bejoy Mathew and Manoj Kurian.
Sabuji said: “The filming took place over three days starting 8am in the morning and finishing around midnight but we thoroughly enjoyed every moment of the new experience.
“It was fun-filled and thrilling and it gave us the opportunity to meet with new people from different backgrounds as well as being treated like celebrities while filming.
“It was stressful for us on the hosting day even though we went above and beyond our way to create our culinary art and commitment.”
Each episode of the latest series takes place in a different part of the UK including Glasgow, Cardiff, Newcastle, Nottingham, Bristol, Leeds, Birmingham, London, Manchester, and Liverpool.
It will see three local professional pairs cook a three-course meal for each other with a pinch of entertainment in between.
After each evening, the contestants will score each other in secret, and the pair with the highest score after all three dinner parties will be crowned the winner.
Sabuji said: “We hope our entertainment, cooking, and hosting are unique and definitely attract viewers of the programme.
“We are proud to bring a prime-time national TV show to our local village as well. Our customers and patrons are also thrilled.”
Kerala Kitchen South Indian Restaurant & Bar will appear on Come Dine With Me: The Professionals on Friday, July 15 at 5pm on Channel 4.
The restaurant, which is usually open for dine-in and takeaway from Tuesday to Sunday, will be closed for three weeks between July 14 and August 8 due to holidays.
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