WINNERS OF SOUTH WEST CHEF OF THE YEAR 2015 ANNOUNCED
The winners of the 2015 South West Chef of the Year were announced last Thursday at an Awards Presentation Dinner hosted and sponsored by Exeter Golf and Country Club. The competition attracts the region’s best chefs and is the South West’s most prestigious cooking event. It began in the summer with initial entries taken in August for the five classes: Junior, Home Cook, Student, Young Professional and Professional.
Semi-finals and finals have taken place throughout the region this autumn. Thursday saw the finals of the Professional, Young Professional and Student Chef classes take place at The Michael Caines Academy at Exeter College with a host of well-respected and award winning chefs in attendance to judge and mentor competitors. Chefs included Michael Caines MBE of Gidleigh Park, Paul Ainsworth of Paul Ainsworth at Number 6, Peter Gorton of JTJ Hospitality Academy, Neil Haydock of Watergate Bay Hotel, Simon Hulstone of The Elephant Restaurant, Matt Mason of The Jack in the Green as well as Chris and James Tanner of Barbican Kitchen and The Kentish Hare.
Winners were:
South West Chef of the Year (overall)
Jamie Rogers, Head Chef, Langdon Court, Down Thomas, Plymouth, Devon
South West Professional Chef of the Year
Jamie Rogers, Head Chef, Langdon Court, Down Thomas, Plymouth, Devon
South West Young Professional Chef of the Year
James Mason, Sous Chef, Salutation Inn, Topsham, Devon
South West Student Chef of the Year
Jack Sharland, Exeter College and Salutation Inn, Topsham, Devon
South West Home Cook of the Year
Nicola Youngs, Dymock, Gloucestershire
South West Junior Chef of the Year
Andrew Callaghan, Clayesmore Senior School, Blandford Forum, Dorset and Julia Kwiatkowska, Hayle Community School, Hayle, Cornwall
Best Menu
Jamie Rogers, Head Chef, Langdon Court, Down Thomas, Plymouth, Devon
Best Dish
David Kelman, Executive Head Chef, Ellenborough Park Hotel, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
Main course dish: Saddle and haslet of rabbit, autumn vegetables, puy lentils, artichoke and chervil root purée
Best Presentation
David Kelman, Executive Head Chef, Ellenborough Park Hotel, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
Main course dish: Saddle and haslet of rabbit, autumn vegetables, puy lentils, artichoke and chervil root purée
Best Use of Regional Produce
Nicola Youngs, Dymock, Gloucestershire
Michael Caines said: “As expected, the standard of entries to yesterday’s finals for the Student, Young Professional and Professional classes was again exceptional. Competition was stiff but all entrants seemed to really enjoy and get lots out of it. Last night’s celebratory dinner and awards ceremony was a fitting tribute to the amount of effort, skill and creativity shown by all our chefs from each of the five competition categories.”
The celebratory evening at Exeter Golf and Country Club began with a drinks reception and canapés followed by a three course dinner prepared by Dean Westcar – South West Professional Chef of the Year 2014, Tom Scade – South West Professional Chef of the Year 2011 and Elly Wentworth – South West Young Professional Chef of the Year 2012 and 2014.
Now in its 12th year, South West Chef of the Year is sponsored by Bidvest Foodservice.
