Who will be competing in 2019?

Thank you very much to everyone who has entered all five categories of South West Chef of the Year 2019.

We are very aware of the time and effort that goes into preparing entries and are extremely grateful to everyone who has done so.  With the standard of entries so high this year, our judges faced a real challenge to select just a few for the next round in each category and were forced to be extremely particular in order to narrow them down.  As a result, they would like to urge everyone who has not achieved a place in the next round in 2019 to enter again next year.

We are delighted to announce below the names of those who will be competing in the semi-finals of the Professional, Young Professional and Student/Apprentice categories and the final of the Home Cook category.  You will also find below a reminder of the finalists in our Junior category (aged 11-16) who have already won the finals within their own counties to reach the South West final.

Professional Chef category
semi-finalists:

Sponsored by Ritter Courivaud

Semi-final to be held on Saturday 21st September at Exeter College

• Fraser Bruce, Head Chef, Halsetown Inn, Halsetown, Cornwall
• James Checkley, Head Chef, Kentisbury Grange, Barnstaple, Devon
• Joe Cotton, Sous Chef, Boringdon Hall Hotel, Plympton, Devon
• Alex Greene, Sous Chef, Lucknam Park, Bath
• Scott Harrison-Jones, Chef Proprietor, Shepherd Shack Catering, Exeter, Devon
• Luke Hill, Sous Chef, The Idle Rocks, St Mawes, Cornwall
• Edward Marsh, Sous Chef, Manor House Hotel, Castle Combe, Wiltshire
• Jade Shorney, Head Chef, The Rising Sun Inn, West Bagborough, Somerset
• Paul Wearing, Head Chef, The Springer Spaniel, Treburley, Cornwall

Young Professional Chef category
semi-finalists:

Sponsored by Essential Cuisine

Semi-final to be held on Saturday 21st September at Exeter College

• Josh Ambridge, Senior Chef de Partie, Lords of the Manor, Upper Slaughter, Gloucestershire
• Andy Amour, Demi Chef de Partie, The Idle Rocks, St Mawes, Cornwall
• John Brimicombe, Chef de Partie, Boringdon Hall Hotel, Plympton, Devon
• Cole Harris, Commis Chef, Custom House, Barnstaple, Devon
• Sophie Kennard, Chef de Partie, The Swan, Bampton, Devon
• Billy Pounsett-Smart, Chef de Partie, Kentisbury Grange, Barnstaple, Devon
• Jordan Randerson, Chef de Partie, The Elephant, Torquay, Devon
• Jamaar Semper-House, Chef de Partie, Lucknam Park, Bath

Student/Apprentice Chef category
semi-finalists:

Sponsored by Nisbets Catering Equipment

Each of the region’s catering colleges is offered one guaranteed place at the semi-final and the judges then select further competitors, from those choosing to enter directly, to take up a small number of additional places available.

Semi-final to be held on Saturday 21st September at Exeter College

• Mathew Adcock, Petroc College and The Swan, Bampton, Devon
• Oscar Ashley, Bridgwater and Taunton College and the Lord Poulett Arms, Hinton St George, Somerset
• Ashley Gilder, Cornwall College, St Austell and The Longstore, Charlestown, Cornwall
• Andrei Jurma, Truro and Penwith College and The Gurnard’s Head, Zennor, Cornwall
• Sam Loader, Weston College/School of Food and BOX-E, Bristol
• Joshua Jay Mannino, Launceston College and Hotel Endsleigh, Milton Abbot, Devon
• Joseph Maxwell-Troake, Exeter College and The Galley, Topsham, Devon
• Rosie Nevill, Exeter College, Devon
• Madeline Puttock, Gloucestershire College
• George Schmidt, Truro and Penwith College and Kota, Porthleven, Cornwall
• Hazel Stanton, Exeter College and Gather, Totnes, Devon
• Finley Start, Cornwall College

Home Cook category
finalists:

Sponsored by Ashburton Cookery School

Final to be held on Saturday 5th October at Ashburton Cookery School

• Harry Burgess, Plymouth, Devon
• Gillian Francis, Liskeard, Cornwall
• Tom Litten, Upottery, Devon
• Katriona Watson, Launceston, Cornwall
• Marie-Joelle West, Exeter, Devon

Junior Chef category
finalists:

Sponsored by Lympstone Manor and Michael Caines MBE

Finals were held in each of the six counties of the South West during 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.

Final to be held on Saturday 5th October at Ashburton Cookery School

• George – Truro School, Cornwall
  Mentor judge: Emily Scott, St Tudy Inn, St Tudy
• Oliver – The Kings School, Ottery St Mary, Devon
  Mentor judge: Mark Dodson, The Masons Arms, Knowstone
• Katie – The Gryphon School, Sherborne, Dorset
  Mentor judge: Pete Murt, Rick Stein, Sandbanks
• Susanna– Katherine Lady Berkeley’s School, Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire
  Mentor judge: Gus Ashenford, Restaurant 5 North Street, Winchcombe
• Munopa – Queen’s College, Taunton, Somerset
  Mentor judge: Liam Finnegan, The Castle Hotel, Taunton
• Katherine – The Ridgeway School and Sixth Form College, Wroughton, Wiltshire
  Mentor judge: Hywel Jones, Lucknam Park, Bath

Click here for further details of the county finals of the Junior Chef category