EIGHTEEN months ago Lisa Allen was relatively unknown outside culinary circles.

But after winning The Great British Menu in 2010, the 29-year-old from Clitheroe has been catapulted to celebrity status following in the footsteps of the likes of TV chef Nigella Lawson.

In the last year she has also been instrumental in helping Northcote in Langho, where she is head chef, retain its Michelin star and she can even boast to have cooked for Prince Charles and Camilla.

She is saying move over to Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsay tonight when she hosts an Evening With Lisa Allen at The Grand in Clitheroe, demonstrating her culinary abilities to eager foodies.

And her TV fans will be pleased to hear the the next series of The Great British Menu is being edited after scenes were filmed last month, and will be on our screen again in the Spring.

But the modest chef remains bashful about her ongoing success, admitting she is still getting used to being recognised by strangers.

She said: “I was in Preston train station waiting to get on a train to London when a man came up to me and congratulated me on my success.

"It is strange to think of people watching me on television.

"I just hope that I managed to show what a fantastic region the North West is and what we have to offer.”

And Lisa revealed she is still getting used to being in front of the cameras.

She said: “At first it was very daunting on The Great British Menu, especially having the cameras watch your every move. It does put you a bit off your pace in the kitchen.

“After the first day or so I started getting used to being followed around and it did get easier.

"This year I think it might be a bit easier stepping back in front of the cameras but from the cooking point of view it could be easier first time around as there will be a greater expectation from me this time.”

Last year, after battling it out to represent the North West, Lisa was selected to cook for Prince Charles at a royal banquet.

Viewers saw Lisa’s starter, wild rabbit and leek turnover with piccalilli, being enjoyed by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall along with 120 special guests.

She added: “Having the chance to cook for Prince Charles and Camilla was fantastic but daunting and a lot of pressure.

“Prince Charles had a chat with us afterwards and he said he loved the rabbit. He and Camilla were both lovely.”

Lisa studied catering at Lancaster and Morecambe College and went on to join Michelin-starred Holbeck Ghyll in the Lake District as a commis chef in 2000.

Over the next two years she moved on to the two-Michelin-starred Le Champignon Sauvage in Cheltenham.

Winner of the Best Chef Of The Year at the 2008 Northern Hospitality Awards, she then became the demi chef de partie at Northcote.

After only four years, at the age of 23, she was promoted to her current position as head chef, joining a very small club of female chefs at the helm of a Michelin-starred restaurant.

Her mentor and chef patron at Northcote, Nigel Haworth, will appear on this year’s series of The Great British Menu as a judge for the North East region.

And it is Nigel that Lisa thanks for helping her suceeed her dreams.

She added: “It has been a rollercoaster of a year, winning Great British Menu was fantastic and retaining the Michelin star was also a huge achievement.

“We have all worked hard to achieve what we have because we are passionate about food, and of course Nigel has been a fantastic inspiration for me personally.

“I hope now that I can inspire other people who are interested in cooking to pursue their passion.”

* Clitheroe Lions Club presents An Evening With Lisa Allen at the Grand, Clitheroe on Wednesday, February 23. Doors 7pm. Tickets sold out.