Introducing our Junior Chef finalists 2023

After the recent county level competitions, we are delighted to introduce the finalists for South West Junior Chef of the Year 2023, kindly sponsored by Michael Caines Ltd.

This category of the competition is open to young cooks aged 11-16 and after submitting their recipes for a main course dish using principally locally-sourced ingredients, selected competitors were invited to cook their dishes at the county rounds, which took place in catering colleges across the South West, enabling competitors to enjoy a taster of the facilities at their local college, should they be interested in pursuing studies in hospitality.

The winners of the six county titles will now meet at the grand final on Saturday 7th October at Exeter College.  In preparation for the final, each of the finalists will spend some time in the kitchen of their mentor chef (one of the county judges), who will help them to develop their dish and further build their skills and confidence, whilst also providing a perfect opportunity for competitors to gain valuable experience of a working kitchen.

We are extremely grateful to all of the county judges (see below) who give up their time so generously to judge the competition and provide helpful feedback to all competitors and particularly to those who support the finalists through the mentoring process.

Thank you also to the catering colleges who kindly host the county finals.

We enjoyed some absolutely thrilling county finals where competitors demonstrated a range of skills and presented some fabulous dishes for our judges.  Well done to all the young cooks who took part and congratulations to the winners, outlined below, who will meet in October.

We would also like to extend our thanks to the parents, guardians and teachers of all competitors for supporting them throughout the competition.

Cornwall

Cornwall College, Camborne

Cornwall Junior Chef of the Year 2023

The judges simply could not split the competitors in this competition and, in the end, awarded to the title jointly to:

Freya – Penrice Academy, St Austell

William – Hayle Academy

Judges:

• Tim Kendall – Chef Proprietor, The Barley Sheaf, Gorran and The Rising Sun, Altarnun
• Clyde Conellan – Chef Lecturer, Cornwall College

Mentor judges:

Pete Murt – The Seafood Restaurant, Padstow and Tim Kendall – The Barley Sheaf, Gorran and The Rising Sun, Altarnun

Cornwall Junior finalists

• Freya – Penrice Academy, St Austell
• Gwen – Penair School, Truro
• Luke – St Ives School
• Phoebe – Penair School, Truro
• Sam – Penrice Academy, St Austell
• William – Hayle Academy

Devon

Exeter College

Devon Junior Chef of the Year 2023

Jessica – Torquay Girls’ Grammar School

Judges:

• Mark Dodson – Chef Proprietor, The Masons Arms, Knowstone
• Scott Paton – Executive Chef, Àclèaf, Boringdon Hall Hotel, Plympton
• Matthew Pickett – Hospitality Curriculum Manager, Exeter College

Mentor judge:

Mark Dodson – The Mason’s Arms, Knowstone

Devon Junior finalists

• Chloe – Lipson Co-operative Academy, Plymouth
• Jessica – Torquay Girls’ Grammar School
• Jessica – The King’s School, Ottery St Mary
• Joe – Newton Abbot College
• Lakota – Great Torrington School
• Lincoln – The Spires College, Torquay
• Tom – Trinity School, Teignmouth

Dorset

Weymouth College

Dorset Junior Chef of the Year 2023

Elijah – St Peter’s School, Southbourne

Judges:

• Russell Brown – Director, Creative About Cuisine
• Alan Kelly – Chef Lecturer, Weymouth College

Mentor judge:

Sam Hughes – Head Chef at Rick Stein, Sandbanks

Dorset Junior finalists

• Amber- Lytchett Minster School, Lytchett Minster
• Elijah – St Peter’s School, Southbourne
• Mia – The Bishop of Winchester Academy, Bournemouth
• Oliver – The Bishop of Winchester Academy, Bournemouth
• Oliver – Lytchett Minster School, Lytchett Minster
• Olly – Highcliffe School, Christchurch

Gloucestershire

Gloucestershire College, Cheltenham

Gloucestershire Junior Chef of the Year 2023

Catherine – Katherine Lady Berkeley’s School, Wotton-under-Edge

Judges:

• Richard Davies – Executive Chef, Calcot Manor
• Dean Westcar – Development Chef, Thornbury Castle
• Scott Morgan – Chef Lecturer, Gloucestershire College

Mentor judge:

Richard Davies – Calcot Manor, Tetbury

Gloucestershire Junior finalists

• Adam – Severn Vale School, Gloucester
• Archie – Chipping Sodbury School
• Catherine – Katharine Lady Berkeley’s School, Wotton-under-Edge
• Heidi – Katharine Lady Berkeley’s School, Wotton-under-Edge
• Herbie – Newent Community School and Sixth Form Centre
• Willow – Chipping Sodbury School

Somerset

Bridgwater and Taunton College, Taunton

Somerset Junior Chef of the Year 2023

Theo – Westfield Academy, Yeovil

Judges:

• Chris Cleghorn – Executive Chef, The Olive Tree, Queensberry Hotel, Bath
• Nathan Johnson – Junior Sous Chef, The Royal Crescent Hotel, Bath and current South West Chef of the Year
• James Jones – Chef Lecturer, Bridgwater and Taunton College

Mentor judge:

Chris Cleghorn – The Olive Tree, Queensberry Hotel, Bath

Somerset Junior finalists

• Charlie – Westfield Academy, Yeovil
• Ivelin – Priory Community School, Weston-super-Mare
• Oliver – Westfield Academy, Yeovil
• Poppy – The King Alfred School and Academy, Highbridge
• Ruairidh – Westfield Academy, Yeovil
• Theo – Westfield Academy, Yeovil
• Thomas – Queen’s College, Taunton

Wiltshire

Wiltshire College Trowbridge

Wiltshire Junior Chef of the Year 2023

Akshatha – South Wilts Grammar School, Salisbury

Judges:

• Hywel Jones, Executive Chef, Lucknam Park, Bath
• Chris Cleghorn, Executive Chef, The Olive Tree, Queensberry Hotel, Bath
• Stephen Lloyd, Chef Lecturer, Wiltshire College

Mentor judge:

Hywel Jones – Lucknam Park, Bath

Wiltshire Junior finalists

• Akshatha- South Wilts Grammar School, Salisbury
• James – St John’s School, Marlborough
• James – St John’s School, Marlborough
• Natalie – Appleford School, Shrewton
• Noah – Appleford School, Shrewton
• Thomas – St John’s School, Marlborough