The chef appeared on the show judging and mentoring her fellow pub chefs Josh Eggleton of the Pony & Trap, Somerset and Dominic Chapman of the Beehive, White Waltham as well as Jude Kareama, chef owner of restaurant Kota, in Cornwall.
Watkins came out on top on last year’s show when her winning fish course was served at a D-Day anniversary banquet where David Cameron was a special guest.
She said: “I was thrilled to be asked to come back as a veteran for Great British Menu this year – I thought the brief was something I would be able to give input to, especially having cooked at the banquet last year at St. Paul’s cathedral.
“I couldn’t believe that I was going to be mentoring Dom and Josh, who I competed against last year. Not only are they friends but I also hugely look up to them as chefs.”
“Amazing region”
This year’s Great British Menu banquet is themed around the 100 year anniversary of the Women’s Institute, and will be held at Drapers Hall, London.
She added: “The whole week was a great pleasure. I got to enjoy some incredible food and I hope the chefs took on board my comments as intended – constructive points in heading to a banquet.
“The south west is an amazing region and Jude, Josh and Dom are three fantastic chefs to be representing it.”
One-off dinner
To celebrate Watkins’ involvement in the series, she will be holding a Great British Menu themed dinner alongside Eggleton, Chapman and Kareama at the Kingham Plough on Monday, 31 August, where they will each cook one course for diners.