Ahmed Abdalla speaks on 'incredible' experience as Great British Menu 2025 wildcard

Ahmed Abdalla returned to the GBM kitchen as a surprise wild card, wowing the judges with his culinary skill.

Ahmed is currently the head chef at Legacy at The Grand, York.

He was brought back by the judges to compete in the Great British Menu 2025 finals as one of the favourite runners up of the series and competed in the Northeast and Yorkshire region.

Ahmed impressed the judges in his heat with impressive dishes inspired by historical figures. His fish dish was a standout, earning the highest score among all finalists in the series.

He said: "The pressure was completely different from the initial competition. There was definitely more of it because you’re fast-tracked straight to the final. You walk into a room filled with regional winners who have already fought through the whole process, and you’re the wildcard, taking someone’s spot.

“That comes with an expectation that your food has to be exceptional—you feel like you have to prove why you deserve to be there. But at the same time, I only had to cook one dish, while they had to go through a whole week of cooking multiple courses for the judges.

“So in some ways, I felt more at ease. I remember watching them prepare their main courses, stressing over their starters, and thinking, ‘I’m only here for one day, let’s just enjoy it.’ That’s not to say there wasn’t pressure, there absolutely was, but I also knew I had a unique opportunity to just focus on this one dish and have fun with it. I wanted to showcase everything I’d already done and just hope it worked out.

“It was this strange mix of intensity and enjoyment because I was able to fully embrace the moment while the others had so much more to think about. The chefs there, both the men and women, had an incredible amount of pressure on them, and I had a lot of respect for that. That whole week is just insane—what they go through is incredible.

Speaking about the latest winner of GBM, Ahmed added: “Amber is honestly one of the most lovely, humble people you’ll ever meet. That was the first time I’d spoken to her in person, but I’d seen her in the competition before, and she’s exactly who she appears to be - genuine, incredibly talented, and just a professional through and through. The way she champions her background, and her style of cooking is inspiring, and I think there needs to be a lot more focus on that.

He added: “One of the things I took away from the experience was just how many genuinely good people there are in this industry. There’s always this perception that chefs are egotistical or overly competitive, but that’s just not the case. I met so many chefs who were passionate about what they do and simply wanted to showcase their talent. The top three people I really connected with were Amber, Sally, and a few others—just really grounded, down-to-earth chefs.

"It was refreshing, to be honest, you walk into something like GBM expecting intense competition, but instead, you meet people who share your passion and drive, and that’s what makes the whole experience special.

“It actually filled me with confidence, just being around people like that. I left feeling inspired, not just because of the competition, but because of the people I met along the way."

On whether he would change anything about his time on GBM, Ahmed added: "I’ve only watched a few episodes back, and sure, in hindsight, I could say, ‘Oh, I should have been more organized, I should have practiced that dish more.’ But honestly, I wouldn’t change a thing.

“I went there, gave it my best shot, had fun, and enjoyed myself. At the end of the day, that’s what matters. I think I was able to showcase my thought process when it comes to food and let my personality come through, which is all I could have hoped for.

“Competitions like this can be stressful, but I never lost sight of the fact that it’s also an amazing opportunity. I got to cook my food, share my ideas, and be part of something really special. So no, I wouldn’t change anything. I walked away with experience, memories, and friendships that I’ll carry with me for a long time."

Written by Abi Kinsella