The youngest ever regional winner of the Essential Cuisine North West Young Chef competition 2013 has been announced.
At just 16 years old, Jacques Verite from Southport has become the youngest regional champion of 2013 so far by winning the Merseyside heat of the competition.
The young chef, who works for his dad’s restaurant, Bistrot Verite in Southport, said he wasn’t expecting to win and that he was made up and overwhelmed to be crowned the champion.
Jacque’s dad Marc Verite said: “I’m a very proud dad! Very emotional too.”
Competing at Southport College on 24th April, Jacques cooked a starter of caramelised lamb sweetbreads, Formby asparagus, wild mushrooms and toasted brioche followed by a main course of Morecambe Bay Turbot, Southport shrimp fritter, carrot puree and perigueux sauce. He topped it off with a desert of Ann Forshaw’s yoghurt and stem ginger panna cotta, Yorkshire rhubarb and Grasmere gingerbread crumbs.
When asked which chefs inspired him Jacques said: “My dad, he’s always been supportive of me and I look up to him.”
Jacques faced tough competition from Kevin Reader and Steven Southern from Radisson Blu, Liverpool; Sam Wilson from Thornton Hall Hotel; Pete Brandrick from Hard Days Night Hotel and Owen West from London Carriageworks.
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