National Chef of the Year 2017 finalist Liam McKenna, is the head chef at Trump International.

Liam began his promising career working at Carnoustie Golf Hotel in Scotland. Since his stint at the hotel Liam mainly stayed in Scotland working for a number of establishments including Circus Restaurant, Archerfield Golf Club and as head chef at the Russacks hotel in St. Andrews before moving to Australia. In 2014 he returned to Scotland when accepted the role of sous chef at Donald Trump’s Aberdeenshire estate.

Are you nervous about cooking live at the restaurant show?

I would say I'm more excited than nervous about cooking at the live finals. It should be a great buzz!

How do you let your personality come out in your cooking?

I show my personality in my food by keeping things clean and simple. It shows that I don't like things complicated, I like the ingredients to do the talking for themselves I'm only there to enhance that.

Who have been your greatest

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influences?

I have had many influences over my career. My great friend and chef Paul Whitecross has been a massive influence over the years, but everyone I have worked with during my career has had an influence on me in one way or another.

What do you hope to achieve in the future?

One of the main things I would like to achieve in the future is to have done so well in my own career that I would be an influence on encouraging a lot of new young people to join the industry.

What would winning mean to you?

Winning NCOTY would be an absolute dream come true. It is the most respected chefs’ competition in the UK and to be named the winner would be the pinnacle for any chef!

>>> Read more about this year's finalists here

On Tuesday, October 4 a new National Chef of the Year will be crowned. We take a closer look at this year's finalists hoping to produce winning dishes at the final at The Restaurant Show, which will impress the judging panel.