Meet the National Chef of the Year 2018 finalists: David Davey-Smith

The Staff Canteen

National Chef of the Year 2018 finalist, David Davey-Smith is a chef at Royal Air Force in Worthy Down.

David's early career started as a pot wash for a small fish restraining in Weston super Mare. Before long he worked his way up the career ladder to run the kitchen three nights a week whilst still attending college. He later Joined the RAF as a chef cooking in Afghanistan, Oman, Germany and in Sicily during the Syrian conflict feeding over 4,000 troops.

David has spent the last three years teaching cookery at worthy down school of catering.

David won heat two of the competition at Le Cordon Bleu Cookery School in London which put him through to the final ten. 

How did it feel to get through to the final?

Initially shock! Then just really humbled, there are some massive names and some amazing talent that entered into the competition and to go through a heat winner was just amazing, it blew me away.

Why did you enter national chef of the year?

I entered the competition two years ago and got as far as the final. I took on board all the points that were given and the lessons I had learned and decided that I’d like to challenge myself again. Plus, I just really love competing!

On Tuesday, October 3 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.

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The Staff Canteen

The Staff Canteen

Editor 26th September 2017

Meet the National Chef of the Year 2018 finalists: David Davey-Smith