Chef pays tribute to ‘warm and welcoming’ Dave Myers
THE culinary world has been paying tribute to Hairy Biker Dave Myers after it was announced that he sadly passed away aged 66 last week.
A beloved TV presence, Dave first announced he was battling the illness in May 2022. But the culinary star never divulged the exact type of the cruel disease he was battling.
His BBC co-star, Si King announced the news in a statement on Instagram, and tributes have poured in for the talented chef from Barrow-in-Furness.
On Tuesday February 20, the Hairy Bikers’ latest programme, Hairy Bikers: Go West, aired on BBC Two with Si and Dave visiting eateries and businesses in Lancashire.
This included Mark Birchall, the Chef Patron at Aughton’s Moor Hall, a restaurant boasting two Michelin stars.
In tribute, he wrote: “I’m deeply saddened to hear the news of Dave passing away. I was lucky enough to enjoy a little time in his company, he was such a warm and welcoming man. A legend in the industry. My thoughts are with his family, Si and close friends. RIP.”
As a well-established chef in West
Lancashire and beyond, Birchall had appeared on the BBC Two programme to highlight the fantastic produce and eateries the county has to offer.
In the episode, he showcased his very own lobster dish, paired with a salsa using tomatoes from Croftpak Nurseries in Tarleton – a tomato grower the Hairy Bikers also visited in the programme.
Two weeks ago, after the programme had aired, the Advertiser spoke with Birchall to discuss what it was like filming with the Hairy Bikers and showcasing their Lancashire produce on television.
The chef said: “It was good, it was good to do.
“They’re amazing people Si and Dave, they were just unbelievable. It’s been well reported that Dave isn’t very well at the moment, so that made it even more special to do. We filmed it in the summer and the place looked absolutely incredible.
“You forget this time of year how beautiful it can be.
“It was so good and it was good fun as well, a good bunch. The crew were amazing.”
Although the segment in Hairy Bikers: Go West only appeared to be around 10 minutes in Moor Hall,
Birchall lifted the lid on television secrecy and in reality, it was a six or seven hour filming session.
He added: “I actually could have given more, but obviously they’ve got to fit in everything haven’t they? Then they edit it down so it’s quite concise, but it came off really well.”
Talking about the choice of dish Birchall chose to highlight on the programme, he wanted to show hyperseasonal and local produce on one plate. “I thought great, I’ll use Brian’s tomatoes and do a little lobster dish,” Birchall explained.
“I knew we probably would be using that combination at that time of year, in the August. That’s why they got in touch with the guys over at Croftpak as well.”