Competition was tough at the semi-finals at Exeter College on Saturday 30th September, when competitors in the Professional, Young Professional and Student/Apprentice categories all demonstrated the best of their skills.
Well done to everyone who took part for creating a competition of such an impressive standard that really challenged our judges in making their decisions. But their selections were finally made, after much deliberation, and the finalists are outlined below. Many congratulations to everyone who has made it through.
We would like to extend our thanks to the staff and students at Exeter College for hosting and supporting the semi-finals and, of course, to our judges on the day, pictured left to right: Matt Mason, Seth Ward, Neil Haydock, Scott Paton, Michael Caines MBE DL, Rob Potter, Tim Kendall and Richard Davies.
Thank you to Steve Haywood who photographed all the action throughout the day and to our generous sponsors (also outlined below) for enabling us to stage these categories of the competition.
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 Chef categories will take place on Saturday 7th October and the Professional, Young Professional and Student/Apprentice Chef categories on Tuesday 24th October.
Results and Awards Dinner
The final results of this year’s competition will be announced at our awards presentation evening, immediately following the finals, on 24th October at Exeter Golf and Country Club, when all are welcome to join us for a wonderful meal to be prepared by three leading chefs, all winners and/or judges of South West Chef of the Year.
Starter
Jamaar Semper, South West Young Professional Chef of the Year 2019 and Sous Chef at The Methuen Arms, Corsham
Main
Nathan Johnson, South West Young Professional and Overall Chef of the Year 2022 and Junior Sous Chef at The Royal Crescent Hotel, Bath
Dessert
Chris Cleghorn, Michelin-starred Executive Head Chef at The Olive Tree, Bath
Further details of the evening can be found at southwestchef.co.uk/awards-evening where you can also buy your tickets.
The Finalists….
Lead sponsor:
Professional Chef category finalists:
Sponsored by Ritter Courivaud
Final to be held on Tuesday 24th October at Exeter College
(in alphabetical order)
- Simon Davies, Head Chef, The Rising Sun, Altarnun, Cornwall
- Ben Godiff, Sous Chef, Àclèaf, Boringdon Hall Hotel, Plympton, Devon
- Andrew Jenkinson, Head Chef, Lucknam Park, Bath
- Wyn Jones, Sous Chef, Calcot & Spa, Tetbury, Gloucestershire
Young Professional category finalists:
Sponsored by Essential Cuisine
Final to be held on Tuesday 24th October at Exeter College
(in alphabetical order)
- Luke Bryant, Chef de Partie, Clockspire Restaurant, Milborne Port, Sherborne, Dorset
- Harrison Miller, Blundells School, Tiverton, Devon
- Lewis Nicholas, Junior Sous Chef, Lympstone Manor, Lympstone, Devon
- Shangen Yen, Commis Chef, Lucknam Park, Bath
Student/Apprentice Chef category finalists:
Sponsored by Nisbets
Final to be held on Tuesday 24th October at Exeter College
(in alphabetical order)
- Becky Birchall, City College Plymouth and Fletcher’s Restaurant, Plymouth, Devon
- Perran Clark, Petroc College and New Coast Kitchen, Croyde, Devon
- Lottie Gentile, Truro & Penwith College and The Idle Rocks, St Mawes, Cornwall
- Ben Greenhalf, Exeter College and Gather, Totnes, Devon
- Jayden Watson, Plymouth High School and Lympstone Manor, Exmouth, Devon
Home Cook category finalists:
Final to be held on Saturday 7th October at Exeter College
(in alphabetical order)
- Tareq Assaf, Bath, Somerset
- Lucinda Ellicott, Paignton, Devon
- Aneta Staciwa, Redruth, Cornwall
Junior Chef category finalists:
Sponsored by Michael Caines Ltd.
Finals were held in each of the six counties of the South West during June 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. Two competitors could not be split at the Cornwall final and so our judges chose to award the title jointly to both!
Final to be held on Saturday 7th October at Exeter College
(in county order)
- Freya – Penrice Academy, St Austell, Cornwall
Mentor judge: Tim Kendall, The Barley Sheaf, Gorran and The Rising Sun, Altarnun - William – Hayle Academy, Hayle, Cornwall
Mentor judge: Pete Murt, The Seafood Restaurant, Padstow - Jessica – Torquay Girls’ Grammar School, Torquay, Devon
Mentor judge: Mark Dodson, The Masons Arms, Knowstone - Elijah – St Peter’s School, Southbourne, Dorset
Mentor judge: Sam Hughes, Rick Stein, Sandbanks - Catherine – Katherine Lady Berkeley’s School, Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire
Mentor judge: Richard Davies, Calcot Manor, Tetbury - Theo – Westfield Academy, Yeovil, Somerset
Mentor judge: Chris Cleghorn, The Olive Tree, Queensberry Hotel, Bath - Akshatha – South Wilts Grammar, Salisbury, Wiltshire
Mentor judge: Hywel Jones, Lucknam Park, Bath
Good luck to all finalists!
Overall South West Chef of the Year Award
The winner of one of our five category awards will be presented with the prestigious award of Overall South West Chef of the Year
Comments are closed.