A restaurant chef and manager are celebrating their upcoming appearance on a hit TV show. 

Chef Amy Cohen's fine dining family restaurant Ami Bistro opened in Rowlands Road, Worthing, nearly ten years ago.

Later this month, she and restaurant manager Ryan Murray will appear on Come Dine with Me: The Professionals.

Now in its second series, the Channel 4 show sees three restaurants from one area go head-to-head as they take turns to host a three-course dinner and try to win the £1,000 prize. 

Amy, 34, said: "It was a really cool experience. We had a great time. As a chef I am always in the kitchen so it was nice to have a change of scene."

The Argus: Ryan Murray and Amy Cohen outside Ami Bistro in Rowlands Road, WorthingRyan Murray and Amy Cohen outside Ami Bistro in Rowlands Road, Worthing (Image: Ami Bistro)

Ryan, 37, added: "It was lovely to go and see how other independent restaurants in the area operate. Doing the jobs we do it is easy to be in one place all the time, so it was a real eye-opener for us."

The pair spent five full days filming the show and hosted other restaurateurs on the second of the three nights.

"The whole filming process was completely bizarre," said Ryan.

Amy said: "Everyone seemed to enjoy the food.

"We were quite cocky before our night but when it got to the day I doubted everything  I was doing."

The Argus: Amy Cohen and Ryan Murray celebrating appearing on the showAmy Cohen and Ryan Murray celebrating appearing on the show (Image: Ami Bistro)

Ryan added: "We are one of the top restaurants in the whole of West Sussex so we thought it would be easy but the pressure was on.

"It was surreal."

Asked how Amy chose what to serve, she said: "The starter I picked because when we first opened as a café and evolved into a restaurant, the starter was the first proper food on the menu.The Argus: The bao buns at Ami BistroThe bao buns at Ami Bistro (Image: Ami Bistro)

"I chose lamb as the main as it is one of our bestselling dishes and a chocolate dessert because who doesn't love chocolate."

Ryan added: "The production company made us feel so comfortable and encourages you. All in all it was a great experience."

In the episode, which airs on Thursday, May 23, Ami Bistro goes up against Med in Little East Street, Brighton and the Fat Greek Taverna which used to be in Portland Road, Worthing, but has closed down since it was filmed in October 2022.