South West Chef of the Year competition 2013 announces semi-finalists

The semi-finalists have been announced for the 10th South West Chef of the Year competition, in association with The Staff Canteen. The competition will be judged by a panel of some of the finest chefs in the South West including Michael Caines MBE, Nathan Outlaw, Simon Hulstone, Paul Ainsworth, Hywel Jones, Mark Hix and the Tanner brothers. With a record number of entrants of an exceptional standard, the judges found the task of narrowing entries down an extremely difficult one. Head judge, Michael Caines MBE, said: “We were so impressed with the creativity exhibited by entrants this year in putting together their menus and recipes. Entrants have put a great deal of thought into their recipes, demonstrating their skill and dedication to creating interesting and balanced menus based on the wonderful array of produce available to them here in the South West.” The semi-finals will be held at Exeter College on 12^th October which will also host the finals on 28^th October. The winners will be announced at an awards presentation on the evening of the finals, sponsored and hosted by Exeter Golf and Country Club. This year’s competition includes for the first time a junior class, entries for which close on 12^th September. The final will be held on 19^th October at Ashburton Cookery School in Devon, which will also host the final of the South West’s Best Dish featuring dishes from home cooks. To book tickets to the award presentation dinner, prepared by three previous winners of the South West Chef of the Year competition, please contact 01626 334841 or [email protected]. £75 per person. Visit www.southwestchef.co.uk for further details. Follow on Twitter: @SWChefComp   The semi-finalists are listed below.   Professional Class semi-finalists: •             Adrian Andrews – Chef de Partie, Ode Restaurant, Shaldon •             Sam Burfield – Sous Chef, The Castle Hotel, Taunton •             Andrew Chan – Sous Chef, Thornbury Castle, Thornbury, Bristol •             James Clark – Route 2, Topsham and Travelling Cookery School •             Daniel Hutchinson – Senior Chef de Partie, Lucknam Park, Bath •             Maciek Kijewski – Head Chef, Beales Gourmet Catering •             Daniel Moon – Head Chef, Ston Easton Park, Bath •             Brett Sutton – Head Chef, The Eastbury Hotel, Sherborne   Young Professional Class semi-finalists: •             Nathan Cornwell – Chef de Partie, Lucknam Park, Bath •             Jonah Kellar – The Elephant Restaurant, Torquay •             Harriet Pecover – Head Pastry Chef, The Jack in the Green, Rockbeare •             Kristian Press – Gara Rock Restaurant, South Pool •             Richard Townsend – Junior Sous Chef, The Eastbury Hotel, Sherborne •             Camilla Waite – Chef de Partie, Paul Ainsworth at Number 6, Padstow •             Amy Ward – Apprentice Chef, Magdalen Chapter Hotel, Exeter •             Dominic Weeks – Chef de Partie, Lumière, Cheltenham   The finalists of the South West’s Best Dish Class are: •             Steve Ashworth, Taunton •             James Chubb, Exeter •             Oonagh Egerton, Salisbury •             Beverley Milner Simonds, Burnham on Sea