As the starters came out, the competition was still wide open at this year’s Merseyside Heat of the North West Young Chef Competition. Six chefs did battle in a closely fought heat, with glory finally going to Rikki Vidamour, Chef de Partie at the London Carriage Works in Liverpool.
Rikki faced tough competition from Tomas Krasnan (Hilton Liverpool), Sam Wilson (Thornton Hall Hotel, Wirral), Matthew Dougherty (Garretts Restaurant, Wirral), Dominic Linton (The Red Door, Wirral) and Iain Stansfield (The Griffin Inn, Eccleston).
The cook off was held on 19th April at the fantastic facilities at St Helens College and supported by the Head of Catering Terry Lavin and his staff.
Rikki began his winning menu with a starter of Wards of Birkenhead monkfish with spring vegetables, Wirral watercress and Victoria potato soup with Avruga caviar. Rikki chose these ingredients believing them to show “the wealth of local top quality produce that Merseyside and the North West have to offer”.For his main course Rikki cooked Callum Edge's Black Faced Suffolk Lamb three ways: loin, Kidney & crisp, served with lentils, pea and mint puree, Ormskirk purple sprouting broccoli and a natural jus. Rikki completed his menu with a dessert of Claremont Farm rhubarb and almond frangipan with rhubarb Soup and prune beignet.
The judges on the day were Nigel Crane (Managing Director of the competition sponsor Essential Cuisine), Executive Chef of Cassis at Stanley House Steve Williams and Chairman of Judges Brian Mellor. Brian applauded the courage of all the young chefs taking part saying “I always admire any chefs willing to put their skills under the spotlight in a competition”.
Rikki, who has worked at The London Carriage Works for the last 3 years, will now go on to represent Merseyside at the North West Young Chef Competition Final on 8th June at Manchester College in Didsbury. When asked how he was going to prepare for the final Rikki said “I have held back a few of my ideas in the heat to use in the final”.
If you would to know more about this competition, which gives chefs the opportunity to increase their chances of achieving long term goals, demonstrate skills to a professional audience and get invaluable feedback, call 01606 541490. There is also a Facebook page for the North West Young Chef Competition and you can follow the events on Twitter @NWYoungChefComp.
