Full English tasting plate

Method

• step 1

  Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Lay the pancetta on a baking sheet and stack another baking sheet on top. Cook in the oven for 15 mins until crisp, then remove and drain on kitchen paper.

• step 2

  To make the tomato fondue, put the tomatoes in boiling water, in batches, for 8 seconds, then quickly transfer to a bowl of ice-cold water. Peel off the skins, then quarter and deseed. Cut a couple of the tomatoes into 0.5cm squares and reserve for later.

• step 3

  Put the oil in a medium-sized pan. Add the shallots, garlic and thyme, and cook for 5 mins until soft. Add the bay leaves and tomato purée, and cook for a few mins more. Finally, add the tomatoes and cook everything for 15 mins until slightly dry. Discard the bay leaves, then place the tomato mixture into a blender and blend until smooth. Sieve, season and keep warm. You can make and chill this up to two days ahead.

• step 4

  Add the butter to a frying pan and heat until foaming. Fry the bread until golden all over, remove and drain on kitchen paper. Add the mushrooms to the same pan and fry for 2 mins until softened, adding an extra knob of butter if the pan is too dry.

• step 5

  Carefully place the egg yolks, one at a time, into a pan of simmering water. Cook for 1 min, then very carefully lift out and drain on kitchen paper.

• step 6

  To plate up, spoon the tomato fondue onto each of 6 plates and scatter with the mushrooms. Carefully top each with an egg yolk, then sprinkle with the croutons and reserved tomatoes. Finish with a slice of pancetta and season.