British Culinary Federation announces chef of the year finalists

The British Culinary Federation (BCF) has announced its finalists for its 2016 Chef of the Year Competition.

The 10 finalists will battle it out at the University College Birmingham on Monday, 11 April which will be judged by two Michelin starred chefs Sat Bains and Ashley Palmer-Watts and executive pastry chef at Raymond Blanc’s Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, Benoit Blin.

This year's winner will receive a cash prize of £2,500, a Grant SV Stirring Unit and dinner for two at a Michelin starred restaurant. They will also have the opportunity to join the squad of the English National Culinary Team which will be representing their country at the Culinary World Cup in Erfurt, Germany in October.

The finalists for 2016 include:

Jacob Robinson, Corrigan’s, Mayfair, London

John Grabecki, BNY Mellon, London

Brett Connor, Swinfen Hall, Staffordshire

Jamie Park, Adam Handling at Caxton, London

Mathew Shropshall, University College Birmingham

Martin Carabott, RAC Club, London

Byron Franklin, University of Cambridge

Andy Wright, Restaurant 23, Leamington Spa

Richard Cullen, Cullen’s Restaurant, Staffordshire

Imthiaz Kader, Hotel 41, Rubens at The Palace, London

Judges at the final include:

Ashley Palmer-Watts, Dinner at Heston Blumenthal

Sat Bains, Restaurant Sat Bains

Benoit Blin, Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons

Brian Turner CBE

Roger Narbett MCA

Adam Handling, Adam Handling at Caxton, St Ermin’s Hotel (Previous winner)

Laurent Bouvier, Les Toques Blanches Lyonnaises

Past winners include Luke Tipping and Matt Cheal from the Michelin starred restaurant, Simpsons, Michelin starred chefs Simon Hulstone and Richard Turner, and past UK Bocuse d’Or representative and Michelin starred chef Adam Bennett, England’s National team member Simon Webb and Scottish Chef of the Year 2015, Adam Handling.