Big Dinner: Nick Nairn and Aberdeen FC cook steak

What do top footballers do when training is finished? Sit with their feet up in front of the TV? A few frames of snooker with their team mates? An extra session to impress the boss?

Shay Logan and Russell Anderson get their steak on. Picture: Contributed

That may be how some players spend their time, but not the stars of high flying Aberdeen Football Club.

The BIG dinner’s resident chef, Nick Nairn, decided to help the players take their minds of the challenge for the Scottish Premiership title by inviting them to visit his Aberdeen Cook School and learn how to cook a perfect steak and posh potatoes.

Club captain Russell Anderson, Jonny Hayes, Shay Logan, Mark Reynolds and Adam Rooney all took up the challenge – and they were joined by manager Derek McInnes and Chairman Stewart Milne. It quickly became clear that these guys were just as competitive off the pitch as on it.

Shay Logan and Russell Anderson get their steak on. Picture: Contributed

The early smart money was going on Shay (who admitted that he had cooked a bit) and Mark (who seemed focused on the prize). Jonny and Adam, the two Dubliners, were sure they would have a better chance with Irish beef while Russell brought his usual quiet, calm captain’s authority to proceedings.

Derek didn’t say as much but you had to wonder if places in the team were at threat if the gaffer didn’t win...

Nick kicked off by demonstrating the dish in his own inimitable style – although, as you will see from the video, not without the odd glitch! The guys then took to their stations and as the banter flew they joined battle to see which of them could produce the best plate of food.

At the final whistle, referee Nick confirmed that the pre-match bookies had been spot on. Shay was cook of the day – with Adam coming in a close second. But in the end of the day, cooking was the real winner!

Why don’t you follow the Dons’ lead and try something new in the kitchen for your BIG dinner? Or if you fancy being pampered by two top class chefs at Nick’s cook school in either Aberdeen or Port of Menteith you can bid for the Nick Nairn and Paul Rankin auction lot here.

If you haven’t already signed up to host a BIG dinner on Saturday 7th March - or whenever suits you - click here.