South West Chef of the Year announces 2017 finalists

This year’s South West Chef of the Year competition continues to pick up the pace with the announcement of its 2017 finalists following closely-contested semi-finals on Saturday, September 30.

Now in its 14th year, South West Chef of the Year champions the very best of the region’s professional chefs and junior and home cooks as well as its exceptional produce for which the peninsular has gained a worldwide reputation. Places in the competition are much coveted with chefs and culinary enthusiasts from 11 years up entering for their chance to cook for the panel of highly regarded regional chefs including Michael Caines MBE of luxury country house hotel Lympstone Manor.

The Professional finalists are:

Martin Blake, Senior Sous Chef, The Manor House Hotel, Castle Combe, Wiltshire

James Checkley, Sous Chef, Kentisbury Grange, Barnstaple, Devon

Robert Cox, Head Chef, Tudor Farmhouse Hotel and Restaurant, Clearwell, Gloucestershire

David Mann, Sous Chef, Boringdon Hall Hotel, Plympton, Devon

Finalists in the Young Professional category are:

Claire Andrew, Commis Chef, Kentisbury Grange, Barnstaple, Devon

Harrison Brockington, Chef de Partie, Grosvenor Hotel, Torquay, Devon

Joshua Murphy, Demi Chef de Partie, Lucknam Park, Bath

Paul Wearing, Senior Chef de Partie, Boringdon Hall Hotel, Plympton, Devon

Finalists in the Student/Apprentice category are:

John Brimicombe, Exeter College and Boringdon Hall Hotel, Plympton, Devon

Katie Endicott, Bridgwater and Taunton College, Somerset

William Hamzij, Exeter College and Driftwood Hotel, Porscatho, Cornwall

Ford Thanyapat Khwanyuen, Truro and Penwith College, Cornwall

Eleanor Thuell, Exeter College and Rodean Restaurant, Kenton, Devon

Finalists in the Home Cook category are:

Andrew Callaghan, Verwood, Dorset

Lucinda Ellicott, Paignton, Devon

Emy Mordue, Exeter, Devon (Devon Life Home Cook 2016)

Kelly Shannon, Stonehouse, Gloucestershire

Sue Stoneman, Exmouth, Devon

Finalists in the Junior Chef category are:

Cornwall: Anna West, Penair School, TruroAnna will be mentored by Stephane Delourme at The Seafood Restaurant, Padstow

Devon: Samantha Taylor-Clarke, Stover School, Newton AbbotSamantha will be mentored by Mark Dodson at The Masons Arms, Knowstone

Dorset: Emily Henson, Bournemouth School for GirlsEmily will be mentored by Brett Sutton at The White Post, Rimpton

Gloucestershire: Amber Clay, Alderman Knight School, TewkesburyAmber will be mentored by Gus Ashenford at Restaurant 5 North Street, Winchcombe

Somerset: Munopa Nhete, Queen’s College, TauntonMunopa will be mentored by Liam Finnegan at The Castle Hotel, Taunton

Wiltshire: Vikki Pearcey Thorn, Lavington School, Market LavingtonVikki will be mentored by Hywel Jones at Lucknam Park

Places in the competition are much coveted with chefs and culinary enthusiasts from 11 years up entering for their chance to cook for the panel of highly regarded regional chefs including Michael Caines MBE of luxury country house hotel Lympstone Manor.

Of the level of skill displayed during the competition, Michael said: “South West Chef of the Year is hotly contested and I and my fellow judges are always impressed with the skill and flair demonstrated by those who enter. The competition aims to be nurturing and supportive whilst challenging chefs to grow and learn from each round. I can’t wait for the finals and to taste what I know will be some fantastic food from the South West’s next generation of culinary talent.”

Michael is joined by other award winning chefs, Michael Wignall of Gidleigh Park winner of 5 AA Rosettes and Chris and James Tanner of Barbican Kitchen and Kentish Hare to mention but a few. The competition is renowned for its aim to champion professional cooking as a rewarding and exciting career choice as well as the skill of home cooks in the region.

SW Chef of the Year competition 2017 Claire Andrew — SW Chef of the Year 2017

Claire Andrew

Finalists in the Professional, Young Professional and Student/Apprentice Chef categories will now go through to their grand final on Wednesday, 25 October at Exeter College while Junior and Home Cooks will battle it out at Ashburton Cookery School on Saturday, 14 October.

The competition culminates with a glittering awards presentation evening and a sumptuous dinner held at Exeter Golf and Country Club on Wednesday, 25 October. Tickets to this event are available to all. Guests will enjoy a delicious dinner prepared by three highly acclaimed and award winning chefs: Michael Caines MBE; Jamie Coleman, head chef at The Masons Arms, Knowstone who won South West Chef of the Year 2016 and James Mason, head chef at Kentisbury Grange and winner of South West Young Professional Chef of the Year 2015.

The evening will start with a drinks reception with canapés followed by a three-course meal with wines for each course.

The evening will conclude with the announcement of the winners of South West Chef of the Year 2017. Members of the public can buy tickets for the event which can be purchased online at £85 each.

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