Sat Bains | Mount Everest |Guinness World Record

All chefs love a challenge and two Michelin-starred chef Sat Bains is no different. He’s set to cook a three course meal at the top of Mount Everest as he attempts to break the Guinness World Record for the highest formal dinner party at the mountain's North Col, a sharp-edged pass more than 23,000ft above sea level.

“As you get older you want to push yourself,” explained Sat, chef-proprietor of Restaurant Sat Bains. “I like the fact that I’m nervous! This is the next level, we have discipline in the kitchen and I’ve trained all my life but this is something so specific to work towards.” He added: “I’m so excited about the view! To see that from one of the highest mountains in the world and be surrounded by silence – what an amazing experience.” Sat, whose restaurant was the first in Nottingham to win a Michelin star, will be part of a team heading up the mountain in April with expedition leader Neil Laughton, former Royal Marine Commando and SAS officer. The team can expect a meal very different from their usual ration packs, on the menu will be an intense Miso soup using the mountain snow, brought up to temperature to create a heavy and rich broth full of umami (Japanese, meaning savoury - one of the five basic tastes together with sweet, sour, bitter and salty). This will be followed by a rich beef stew done sous vide so the bag can just be popped into water and brought to temperature. And for dessert a Twix style biscuit with popping candy, a real dense chocolate bar. Sat said: “Myself and the development team at the restaurant wanted something

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nutritious but with a lot of flavour, because your taste buds are not as sensitive when you are that high. Water boils at a lower temperature as well so you have to bear that in mind. “I just hope that when the guys get to the top of Everest and eat it they feel they have had a reward. We wanted something gastronomic but ultimately had the feel of having a family meal together at 7,100 meters. johnfreeman3

“Hopefully this meal will be driving force behind us - knowing that’s what we have to look forward to once we’ve done it.” Climbing Everest is a tough challenge which Sat doesn't think can be beaten although he’s always believed one day there will be a chef in space, he said: “I think that will be Heston though to be honest – it suits his character!” Climbing a mountain is a first for Sat who will be training solidly for the next 10 weeks with two personal trainers focusing on cardio and fitness. He’s also hoping to use the facilities at Nottingham Trent University which has a room where the air pressure can be reduced and give him a feeling of what to expect at altitude. The 43-year-old added: “It’s definitely going to be mind over matter and it will be a great experience to look back at and if we get the record then what an achievement. “I’m hoping it will show my restaurant team that I’m not complacent and if the boss is pushing himself then they will want to push themselves too.” *The trip is also raising funds for two charities, Hospitality Action and Community Action Nepal. Watch Sat in action: