We are delighted to announce the finalists for South West Chef of the Year 2019.
The semi-finals of the Professional, Young Professional and Student/Apprentice Chef categories were held on Saturday 21st September at Exeter College where 27 competitors across the three categories prepared some very impressive and tantalising dishes for our judges.
Thank you very much to everyone who took part for all the hard work they put into preparing their menus and demonstrating their skills for our judges. After much tasting and discussion, a decision was finally reached and we are pleased to outline below the names of our finalists for 2019. Many congratulations to all those who have been selected for our finals.
Thank you very much to our judges for the semi-finals: Michael Caines MBE, Richard Davies, Liam Finnegan, Matt Mason, Michael Nizzero, Scott Paton, Seth Ward, Ian Webber, Elly Wentworth and John Wheeler.
Listed below you will find the names of the finalists in all five categories of the competition. The finals of the Home Cook and Junior categories will take place on Saturday 5th October and the Professional, Young Professional and Student/Apprentice Chef categories on Tuesday 22nd October.
Results and Awards Dinner
The final results of this year’s competition will be announced at our awards presentation evening on 22nd October and we would be delighted to welcome you there for a fabulous dinner to be prepared by three leading chefs, all judges and/or winners of the competition. All are welcome. Click here for more details.
Professional Chef category finalists:
Sponsored by Ritter Courivaud
Final to be held on Tuesday 22nd October at Exeter College
- James Checkley, Head Chef, Kentisbury Grange, Barnstaple, Devon
- Joe Cotton, Sous Chef, Boringdon Hall Hotel, Plympton, Devon
- Edward Marsh, Sous Chef, Manor House Hotel, Castle Combe, Wiltshire
- Paul Wearing, Head Chef, The Springer Spaniel, Treburley, Cornwall
Young Professional Chef category finalists:
Sponsored by Essential Cuisine
Final to be held on Tuesday 22nd October at Exeter College
- Josh Ambridge, Senior Chef de Partie, Lords of the Manor, Upper Slaughter, Gloucestershire
- John Brimicombe, Chef de Partie, Boringdon Hall Hotel, Plympton, 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
Outstanding entries from so many semi-finalists meant that our judges took the unusual decision to invite five competitors to the final!
Student/Apprentice Chef category finalists:
Sponsored by Nisbets Catering Equipment
Final to be held on Tuesday 22nd October at Exeter College
- Andrei Jurma, Truro and Penwith College and the Senara Training Restaurant, Penzance, Cornwall
- Joshua Jay Mannino, Launceston College and Hotel Endsleigh, Milton Abbot, Devon
- Rosie Nevill, Exeter College, Devon
- Hazel Stanton, Exeter College and Gather, Totnes, Devon
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 has been mentored by 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
Good luck to all finalists!
Lead sponsor:
Read on for details of our celebration dinner and awards ceremony.
Awards Evening – a celebration of the South West’s outstanding culinary skills!
Join us to celebrate the winners of South West Chef of the Year 2019 on Tuesday 22nd October
Tickets are now available for our celebration evening when the awards will be presented following a wonderful meal prepared by three guest chefs, all previous winners and/or judges of South West Chef of the Year:
Starter:
Elly Wentworth
Head Chef, The Angel, Dartmouth
South West Young Professional Chef 2012, South West Young Professional Chef and overall winner 2014
Main:
Tim Kendall
Head Chef, The Idle Rocks, St Mawes
South West Young Professional Chef 2016, South West Professional Chef and overall winner 2018
Dessert:
Michael Nizzero
Executive Chef, The Bath Priory
South West Chef of the Year judge
Our chefs will be assisted in the kitchen and front-of-house by students of the Michael Caines Academy.
This evening brings about a rare gathering of the region’s hospitality industry including our finalists, judges, sponsors and many more and is kindly sponsored and hosted by Exeter Golf and Country Club.
The evening will begin with a drinks reception followed by a three-course meal, with wines perfectly paired with our menu, and coffee and petits fours to finish. Tickets are available at £95 each. Make sure you book soon – click here for more information about the evening and to book your tickets.
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