The Restaurant: Lindsie and Tim sent home as True Provenance is closed

It would have been a travesty for any of the three remaining couples to have to miss out on the latest 'challenge' so it was only fair that they were all given the chance to participate in a masterclass, the chefs with Raymond Blanc at Le Manoir and front of house at Pied a Terre with David Moore. The following day the couples met with Sarah Willingham to discuss the business aspect of their restaurants.

In any case it would have been extremely difficult to choose one couple to leave out of the challenge as all deserved to be there for various different failures in the "awkward customers" task. Once again Alasdair and James got off lightly with just one coeliac and a party of fine dining supper-club members. Surprisingly it was Alasdair who earned the praise this week and the criticism was reserved for the food.

Michele and Russell had a party of coeliac customers too so it was a bit unfortunate that the staff hadn't been fully briefed and a waitress tried to serve them bruschetta.

Lindsie and Tim drew the short straw with a party of ten - five vegetarians and five vegans! I wonder if five vegans had turned up unannounced on Raymond Blanc's doorstep would they have found an extensive vegan selection available to them? Somehow I doubt it.

For the chefs' masterclass Raymond demonstrated a summer vegetable risotto, followed by turbot, both of which dishes were to be on the following day's menu. Meanwhile the front of house half of each couple was serving a lunch service at David Moore's 'Pied a Terre' restaurant. The chefs definitely had the easier option!

For service the next day all that they had learned from their respective masterclasses had to be put into practice, with the added distraction of an extra six guests, all friends of Raymond Blanc, all trained by him, and holding numerous Michelin stars between them. No pressure!

James made an odd decision to serve canapes but not bread, and his turbot portions were rather too large so one unlucky table had to make do with haddock instead.

Russell plated up his risotto three times and still wasn't satisfied - and nor were his special guests when it arrived cold and over-fussy. Michele found it hard to keep on top of things - tables went uncleared and wine unserved.

Tim got his timing totally wrong and made the guests wait far too long for their turbot, Lindsie however had really blossomed and seemed totally in control of her domain.

Back at Le Manoir Raymond and his two inspectors deliberated over which couples should go through to the final. Alasdair and James were young, passionate, but had no business sense. Russell shut down under pressure and Michele had not learned as much as she should. Despite his food business background Tim had still been unable to prove that he could make a profit - or indeed not make a loss. Eventually he made his decision and it was Lindsie and Tim who would be going home to their son. Alasdair and James looked more shocked than anyone to learn that they would be in the final along with Michele and Russell.

The question has to be, is Raymond Blanc looking for superb food and otherwise disaster, or good food and a cheerful soul?

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