Welsh senior and young chefs with an ambition to be named the best in Wales are being encouraged to enter the nation’s top culinary contests.
Applications are now open for the National and Junior Chefs of Wales 2027 competitions, with online entries - www.culinaryassociation.wales/competitions-hub/ - closing on November 30 at midnight.
Organised by the Culinary Association of Wales (CAW), the competitions give the Welsh chefs selected for the finals the opportunity to test their culinary skills, creativity and passion against the best in front of an audience.
The Junior and National Chef of Wales finals will be held at the Castell Howell Trade Show at ICC Wales, Newport on January 19 and 20 next year, respectively.
National Chef of Wales entrants must be aged 24 or over on January 20, 2027, while the Junior Chef of Wales entrants must be aged between 17 and 23 on January 19, 2027.
Chefs in both competitions must be of Welsh descent or currently working in Wales or studying towards a catering or hospitality qualification within the country.
They must submit their own creative, three course menu for four people, including recipes, giving the judges an insight into their culinary style, creativity and approach to food. Judges will select the finalists based on their applications.
Finalists in both competitions must cook a menu that features a minimum of eight GI Welsh products. Menus from the National Chef of Wales finalists must include a starter of Wild Sea Bass, a main course using two different cuts of GI Welsh Beef and a dessert featuring seasonal fruit, chocolate and a biscuit or tuille.
Menus submitted by the junior chefs must include a starter featuring sustainable Welsh fish or seafood, a main course using two different cuts of GI Welsh Lamb and a dessert featuring seasonal fruit, chocolate and a biscuit or tuille.
Chefs in both finals, which will be judged by a panel of top chefs, will be given three hours to prepare, cook and present their dishes, with the ingredients sourced from principle sponsor Castell Howell Foods.
The Junior Chef of Wales winner will qualify automatically for the UK national semi-final of the Young National Chef of the Year.
“The finals will involve pressure, passion and exceptional cooking as chefs battle it out for the coveted title,” said Colin Gray, CAW vice president and chairman of judges. “The standard will be high and competition will be fierce in both finals.
“Winning is more than about the title – it’s an opportunity to showcase your talent, represent Welsh culinary excellence and join the prestigious roll of chefs who have held these coveted honours.
“Previous National Chef of Wales finalists have included leading chefs from across Wales and beyond, with the competition providing a platform for them to demonstrate their skills, creativity and passion for Welsh food.
“The Junior Chef of Wales final is a chance for the most exciting young chefs to step into the spotlight and demonstrate their potential as a rising star of Welsh hospitality. Expect pressure, excitement and plenty of competition as the next generation of Welsh chefs battle it out to claim the coveted title.”
Picture captions:
Who will succeed current National and Junior Chef of Wales champions, Dion Wyn Jones and Caitlin Meredith, respectively?
