BBC2: The Restaurant Series 3
The Contestants: Chris & Nathan

Chris & Nathan

Chris and Nathan are from Kent and London.

These best mates from South East London want to serve Modern British cuisine in a restaurant where the atmosphere is laid back with a youthful, lively vibe, serving top-class food at mid-priced eating.

Chris is currently a chef at a weight-loss boot camp in Wales but has been in the catering industry for five years.

Nathan, meanwhile, trained at Westminster Kingsway College in catering but then moved on to the London College of Fashion, specialising in hair design, and is now working as a hairdresser.

Chris has an NVQ Levels 1-3 in cookery and hospitality management and a food hygiene and health and safety certificate. His current role entails cooking nutritional, healthy meals as part of an expensive and respected weight-loss programme.

Chris and Nathan have been friends since high school – they used to pot-wash in a kitchen together! Neither is afraid of a bit of hard work and they can't believe their shared dream of opening their own restaurant could be turning into a reality.

For Nathan, front-of-house charm comes courtesy of his current role as a hairdresser where chatting with clients and making them feel relaxed is second nature. He has also got a year's training at catering college in basic food knowledge and front-of-house skills.

A typical dish from their restaurant would be lamb rump with 3-pepper ketchup and sweet potato chips. Also on their menu are a coconut and amaretto parfait and a strawberry strudel with white chocolate ice cream.

"We feel good food shouldn't have to break the bank. Our concept gives affordable food – almost like a champagne lifestyle with a lemonade pocket," says Nathan.