Jack Blumenthal, the award-winning chef and son of culinary titan Heston Blumenthal, has unveiled a new five-dish menu for his chicken chain, Ginger Wings, all centred around a blue cheese flavour. The limited-edition 'Blue-menthal' menu, which launches this week at both the Marlow and Richmond branches, is designed to highlight the new Boursin Blue Cheese Flavour, the star ingredient.

The innovative menu includes mini savoury filled cheese choux buns, a crispy clucker chicken salad, and Padron Peppers. Jack has quickly made a name for himself in the gastro-casual scene, redefining fine dining with creativity, energy, and a playful approach - a style he dubs as 'fun-dining'.

The 32 year old chef said: "The new flavour has been a huge inspiration, providing the chance to get creative and celebrate indulgence in a fun way - which is also what Ginger Wings is all about.

"It also made it impossible to choose just one hero dish, which is why there are five on the men. Each one reflects how something simple can be transformed into something truly special, which is exactly how I approach cooking."

Discussing his desire to carve out his own success, Jack added: "A lot of people used to ask why I didn't have the name Blumenthal in lights above the door. When people come in and try what we do and have an amazing time, they always say 'I never knew who your dad was.'"

He said that his father warned him against pursuing a culinary career. "He said you'd have no mates, no life - you won't even see your family, and he was right. But I love what we do."

Recalling a particularly memorable Christmas, Jack said: "On Christmas Eve a long time ago I went out in Marlow and I remember waking up quite hungover to Dad with a hairless goose. He made me stand there with a hairdryer and blow-dry this goose for three hours to get the skin crispy."

However, despite the demanding nature of the work, Jack acknowledged there were perks.

"I was the first person to try a triple-cooked chip, and now they're on pretty much every pub menu, everywhere.

"Dad and I are very similar people," he continued. "We have the same humour, same mannerisms, I just say I'm better looking with more hair.

"He's changed the world, I've seen people cry in front of him - but as his son you think... 'he's not that big a deal."

After experiencing a severe manic episode that spiralled into psychosis towards the end of 2023, Heston was hospitalised and subsequently diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

A recent documentary featured Heston speaking openly with Jack about his mental health condition and how it affected their family.

Jack said that following the programme's broadcast, he was inundated with social media messages from viewers explaining how it had provided them with support: "There have been difficult moments. There have been a few very hairy moments of nearly losing him. But I'm so proud of him and our relationship only strengthened when my daughter was born. He adores her."

Echoing his own father's disapproval of his culinary career, he has said that he would not allow his daughter to follow in his footsteps: "There's no chance she'll grow up to be a chef-not on my watch. I'll make my millions and she can be a princess."