The Best Dishes Ever is a BBC Two food programme that brings together a collection of classic recipes from some of the BBC’s most popular television chefs. Presented through themed episodes, the series explores dishes suited to different occasions, cooking styles and tastes, giving viewers a varied menu of ideas for the kitchen.
Each episode focuses on a particular theme, allowing recipes to be grouped around subjects such as picnics, speedy cooking, preparation in advance, family meals and traditional British favourites. The programme combines practical everyday cooking with more ambitious dishes, making it useful for viewers looking for both simple inspiration and new culinary challenges.
The recipes are drawn from the BBC’s extensive food television archive and feature an impressive line-up of chefs. Viewers can see dishes associated with familiar names including Mary Berry, James Martin, Nigella Lawson, Nigel Slater, Paul Hollywood, Lorraine Pascale and the Hairy Bikers.
The show is hosted by Ainsley Harriott, the much-loved British chef and television presenter known for his energetic personality, humour and enthusiasm for food. Harriott introduces the recipes and guides viewers through each episode’s theme, bringing together dishes from the featured chefs with his own considerable experience as a cook and broadcaster. His long television career includes presenting Can’t Cook, Won’t Cook and Ready Steady Cook, making him a natural and engaging host for this celebration of classic BBC recipes.
