After much deliberation and discussion, the first round of judging is now complete and our judges have selected the semi-finalists in the Professional, Young Professional and Student/Apprentice Chef categories of the 2018 South West Chef of the Year and the finalists for South West Home Cook of the Year.
We are delighted to have received so many entries of such high calibre, indicative of the outstanding culinary talents among the region’s chefs and home cooks and are extremely proud to provide a platform for these talents for the 15th year in 2018!
Thank you very much indeed to everyone who entered. We appreciate the hard work that competitors put into their entries, making the judging process extremely challenging for our judges.
Many congratulations to those who have been selected for the next round of the competition, outlined below. Included is 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.
“The standards this year are very high – we’re expecting an amazing competition across all categories. Best of luck to all competitors!”
Michael Caines MBE
Professional Chef category
semi-finalists:
Sponsored by Ritter Courivaud
Semi-final to be held on Saturday 29th September at Exeter College
- Tom Bennetts, Head Chef, Rose in Vale Country House Hotel, St Agnes, Cornwall
- Fraser Bruce, Head Chef, Tate 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 Chef category
semi-finalists:
Sponsored by CaterPeople
Semi-final to be held on Saturday 29th September at Exeter College
- 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
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 29th September at Exeter College
- Emily Delafield, City College Plymouth and Bridge Bar & Restaurant, Plymouth
- 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 and The Masons Arms, Knowstone
- Elliott Mooney, Weston College and Puro’s, Clevedon
- Andrew Roadhouse, Bridgwater and Taunton College and The Castle Hotel, Taunton
- Jamie Tredinnick, Truro and Penwith College and The Tolcarne Inn, Newlyn
- Charlie Walters, Cornwall College, Saltash and The Greedy Goose, Plymouth
- Connor Wright, Truro and Penwith College
Home Cook category
finalists:
Sponsored by Ashburton Cookery School
Final to be held on Saturday 6th October at 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 Lympstone Manor and Michael Caines MBE
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.
Final to be held on Saturday 6th October at Ashburton Cookery School
- Jorgia – Callington Community College, Cornwall
Mentor judge: Stephane Delourme, The Seafood Restaurant, Padstow - Samantha – Stover School, Newton Abbot, Devon
Mentor judge: Mark Dodson, The Masons Arms, Knowstone - Katie – The Gryphon School, Sherborne, Dorset
Mentor judge: Pete Murt, Rick Stein, Sandbanks - Eva – Maidenhill School, Stonehouse, Gloucestershire
Mentor judge: Gus Ashenford, Restaurant 5 North Street, Winchcombe - Conor – Whitstone School, Shepton Mallet, Somerset
Mentor judge: Liam Finnegan, The Castle Hotel, Taunton - Rhys – Wellington Academy, Tidworth
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 competitors!
Lead sponsor:
Read on for details of our 15th anniversary dinner and awards evening.
15th Anniversary Celebration and Awards Evening
Join us to celebrate our 15th anniversary on Wednesday 24th October when we will also announce the winners of South West Chef of the Year 2018!
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 of South West Chef of the Year:
Starter:
Rob Cox
South West Chef of the Year 2017 and Head Chef, Tudor Farmhouse Hotel, Clearwell, Gloucestershire
Main:
Matt Mason
South West Chef of the Year 2007 and now a judge and head chef, The Jack in the Green Inn, Rockbeare, Devon
Dessert:
Mike Tweedie
South West Chef of the Year 2012 and head chef, Adare Manor, Co. Limerick, Ireland
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 £90 each. Make sure you book soon – click here for more information about the evening and to book your tickets.
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