The calibre of chef talent in Essential Cuisine’s North West Young Chef 2017 finals has demonstrated yet again that the region is the ‘one-to-watch’ when it comes to gifted young cooks.
Six chefs – including 2016 winner Daniela Tucci – have emerged from the newly revitalised format which now comprises of just two nail-biting semi-finals held over the past fortnight. Two outright winners, two runners-up and, for the first time ever, two wildcards – entrants deemed by judges as too talented to not be in the running – make up the final group.
The chefs will now go head to head in a final, held at Manchester College’s Fielden Campus on May 25th, creating three local and seasonal stand-out courses, in a bid to wow judges.
The finalists in full:
Cyril Gabriel, 22, Carden Park, Chester
Daniela Tucci, 20, The Art School, Liverpool
Ryan Lee, 21, Rothay Manor, Ambleside
Thomas Reeves, 22, L’Enclume, Cartmel
Kieran Gill, 22, The Art School, Liverpool
Mai Trising, 21, The Black Swan, Kirkby Stephen
Chairman of Judges Brian Mellor explains “We adapted the competition this year to find the best in the North West. And with the two semi-finals taken place, it looks like we’re achieving that. The quality and intensity of the cook off could have easily been the final, with the passion and dedication really shining through.”
Essential Cuisine Business Development Chef and judge, Jonathan Harvey-Barnes, comments: “Across the two semi-finals, each young chef impressed with their skill, meticulous menu planning and execution. In the end, we have six extremely worthy finalists. The margins between winners, runners-up and even our wildcards are so narrow that it is going to be very hard to call. I can’t wait to see the chefs in action again this May where there can be only one winner.”
Alongside the kudos of being crowned the North West Young Chef for 2017, the winner will receive £500 and automatically qualify for the semi-finals of the Craft Guild of Chefs’ Young National Chef of the Year competition, where they will square off against the best young chefs from the rest of the country.
Prior to the final, the six chefs will be treated to an inspirational masterclass with Chef Patron of Manchester’s The French, Adam Reid.
