The semi-finalists and finalists for the prestigious South West Chef of the Year competition were announced on Monday, August 13. After the challenging task of assessing an exceptional array of entries, the panel of judges, led by Michael Caines MBE, have selected the finalists across five categories: Professional, Young Professional, Home Cook, Junior Chef and Student/Apprentice.
South West Chef of the Year has been showcasing and supporting exceptional culinary talent across the region for the last 15 years.
Co-founder and head judge Michael Caines MBE said: “Another solid year of entries with good interest across all categories of the competition. The standard of entries this year has been very high and we’re expecting an amazing competition for this, our 15th year! We wish all competitors the very best of luck!”
The Professional, Young Professional and Student/Apprentice Chef categories will now enter the semi-final stage taking place at Exeter College on Saturday 29th September while those selected in the Home Cook category will go directly to a final at Ashburton Cookery School on Saturday 6th October. Here they will be joined by the Junior Chef finalists, who have already won the junior title in their own counties. The grand finals for the Professional, Young Professional and Student/Apprentice Chefs will take place on Wednesday 24th October at Exeter College followed by a glittering awards presentation evening and dinner at Exeter Golf and Country Club.
Tickets are now available for the awards presentation evening on Wednesday 24th October which brings together some of the South West’s leading chefs, including the judges and competitors, budding young chefs of the future, suppliers and many other representatives from the industry. The evening will be a celebration of the South West food, drink and hospitality sectors. The awards presentation evening will include a drinks reception with canapés followed by a three-course meal with wines for each course. The evening is sponsored and hosted by Exeter Golf and Country Club. Tickets can be purchased online at £90 each at www.southwestchef.co.uk
South West Chef of the Year 2018 semi-finalists and finalists:
Professional Category Semi-finalists
Sponsored by Ritter Courivaud
• Tom Bennetts, Head Chef, Rose in Vale Country House Hotel, St Agnes, Cornwall
• Fraser Bruce, Head Chef, The Tate Gallery, St Ives, Cornwall
• James Checkley, Sous Chef, Kentisbury Grange, Barnstaple, Devon
• Alex Greene, Sous Chef, Lucknam Park, Bath
• Tim Kendall, Sous Chef, The Idle Rocks, St Mawes, Cornwall
• David Mann, Head Chef, Langdon Court Hotel, Down Thomas, Devon
• Nat Tallents, Executive Chef, Lewinnick Lodge and Plume of Feathers, Newquay, Cornwall
• Paul Wearing, Sous Chef, Boringdon Hall Hotel, Plympton, Devon
Young Professional Category Semi-finalists
Sponsored by Caterpeople
• Josh Ambridge, Chef de Partie, Lords of the Manor, Lower Slaughter, Gloucestershire
• Martin Baylis, Junior Sous Chef, Kentisbury Grange, Barnstaple, Devon
• John Brimicombe, Commis Chef, Boringdon Hall Hotel, Plympton, Devon
• Gercelynn Mae Dionio, Demi Chef de Partie, Lucknam Park, Bath
• Aidan King, Chef de Partie, Jack in the Green, Rockbeare, Devon
• Joseph Oliver, Chef de Partie, Buckland Manor, Broadway, Gloucestershire
• Egor Sellick, Chef de Partie, The Castle Hotel, Taunton, Somerset
• Jade Stephens, Junior Sous Chef, Lucknam Park, Bath
Student/Apprentice Chef Category
Sponsored by Nisbets Catering Equipment
Catering colleges across the South West are invited to put forward a student/apprentice chef for a guaranteed place in the semi-final of this category and, in addition, a small number of places are also available to those opting to enter this category directly. Colleges putting a student forward are asked to confirm the name of the student once colleges return for the autumn term in September and so further students may be added to this list at that time.
• Emily Delafield, City College Plymouth
• Rebecca Hurley, Bridgwater and Taunton College
• Andrei Jurma, Truro and Penwith College and The Gurnard’s Head, Zennor
• Sophie Kennard, Exeter College and The Swan, Bampton
• Ben Kittow, Exeter College and Augustus, Taunton
• Harrison Miller, Petroc College
• Andrew Roadhouse, Bridgwater and Taunton College and The Castle Hotel, Taunton
• Ethan Stoodley, Bournemouth and Poole College and Splinters Restaurant, Christchurch
• Jamie Tredinnick, Truro and Penwith College and The Tolcarne Inn, Newlyn
• Charlie Walters, Cornwall College, Saltash and The Elephant Restaurant, Torquay
• Connor Wright, Truro and Penwith College and The Bakehouse, Penzance
Home Cook Category Finalists
Sponsored by Ashburton Cookery School
• Diana Bellinger, Sidmouth, Devon
• Oonagh Egerton, Salisbury, Wiltshire
• Lucinda Ellicott, Paignton, Devon
• Kelly Shannon, Stonehouse, Gloucestershire
Junior Chef Category Finalists
Sponsored by Michael Caines MBE and Lympstone Manor
Finals were held in each of the six counties of the South West during June and July and the winners in each county listed below, will now meet at the final. Each will benefit from mentoring from one of our county judges in preparation for the final.
• Cornwall
Jorgia – Callington Community College
Jorgia will be mentored by Stephane Delourme – Head Chef, The Seafood Restaurant, Padstow
• Devon
Samantha – Stover School, Newton Abbot
Samantha will be mentored by Mark Dodson at The Masons Arms, Knowstone
• Dorset
Katie – The Gryphon School, Sherborne
Katie will be mentored by Pete Murt – Head Chef at Rick Stein, Sandbanks
• Gloucestershire
Eva – Maidenhill School, Stonehouse
Eva will be mentored by Gus Ashenford – Chef Proprietor, Restaurant 5 North Street, Winchcombe
• Somerset
Conor – Whitstone School, Shepton Mallet
Conor will be mentored by Liam Finnegan at The Castle Hotel, Taunton
• Wiltshire
Rhys – Wellington Academy, Tidworth
Rhys will be mentored by Hywel Jones at Lucknam Park
