Outstanding skills on display at the final of South West Junior Chef of the Year 2019!
Sponsored by Lympstone Manor and Michael Caines MBE
The final of South West Junior Chef of the Year 2019 took place at Ashburton Cookery School on Saturday 5th October when our judges were blown away by the wonderful dishes presented by all six finalists!
Well done to all the young chefs that qualified for the final after winning the Junior Chef title in their own counties in July. They certainly made this final one to remember!
Many congratulations to Munopa who took the title! Aged just 14, Munopa won Somerset Junior Chef for the second time in July and presented a lovely dish of Sea Bass, roasted fennel, prawn tortellini, white wine sauce and a herb oil.
Details of all competitors and their dishes can be found below.
Each of our finalists was mentored by one of our judges over the summer when they looked at ways to enhance their dish for the final and gained valuable experience of a working kitchen.
Thank you very much to our judges for the county finals and special thanks to those who mentored the competitors (details below). We would also like to thank the teachers and parents of the young finalists who have clearly inspired them to be creative and skillful in the kitchen, encouraging them to pursue their ambitions within the competition.
Many thanks to our judges for the final (pictured left to right): Richard Davies, Chris Tanner, Seth Ward, Munopa, Darrin Hosegrove, Dez Turland, Michael Nizzero and Michael Caines MBE and thank you very much to all at Ashburton Cookery School for hosting the final.
Our six junior finalists have now been invited to take part in the regional final of the Springboard FutureChef competition in February to compete for a place in the national final and we wish them the very best of luck!
South West Home Cook of the Year
The final of South West Home Cook of the Year , sponsored by Ashburton Cookery School, was also held on 5th October. Five finalists prepared a two course menu (main and dessert) for our judges and the winner will be announced at our awards presentation on 22nd October. See below for details of the finalists and their dishes.
Awards
The awards will be presented to the 2019 winners of all five categories of the competition following a special dinner prepared by previous winners and judges of the competition on Tuesday 22nd October. If you would like to join us , tickets are available through our website – click here for more details.
Congratulations to South West Junior Chef of the Year 2019:
Munopa
Somerset Junior Chef of the Year
Queens College, Taunton
Mentored by Liam Finnegan, Head Chef, The Castle Hotel, Taunton
Sea Bass, roasted fennel, prawn tortellini, white wine sauce and a herb oil
Well done to all other finalists:
George
Cornwall Junior Chef of the Year
Truro School, Truro
Mentored by Emily Scott, St Tudy Inn, St Tudy
St Ewe egg pappardelle with Cornish crab and migas
Katherie
Wiltshire Junior Chef of the Year
The Ridgeway School and Sixth Form, Wroughton
Mentored by Hywel Jones, Executive Chef, Lucknam Park, Bath
Fillet of beef, celeriac purée, a bone marrow, red wine and port jus, fondant potato, heirloom carrots two ways and sautéed shallots
Katie
Dorset Junior Chef of the Year
(for the 2nd consecutive year!)
The Gryphon School, Sherborne
Mentored by Pete Murt, Head Chef, Rick Steins Sandbanks
Brixham caught Black Sea Bream en papillotte, fennel croquettes, Cornish cabbage and a Pernod velouté with candy beetroot garnish
Oliver
Devon Junior Chef of the Year
The Kings School, Ottery St Mary
Mentored by Mark Dodson, Chef Proprietor, The Masons Arms, Knowstone
A trio of chicken accompanied by roasted Macedone potatoes, steamed tenderstem broccoli and roasted red pepper pesto, topped with a Cornish parmesan crisp.
Susanna
Gloucestershire Junior Chef of the Year
Katherine Lady Berkeley’s School, Wotton-under-Edge
Mentored by Gus Ashenford, Restaurant 5 North Street, Winchcombe
Lamb with mint sauce, dauphinoise potatoes and vegetables
Click here for further details of the county finals of the Junior Chef category
Thank you very much to Steve Haywood for photographing the competition!
Lead sponsor:
Read on for details of our dinner and awards evening.
South West Home Cook of the Year
Sponsored by Ashburton Cookery School
The final of South West Home Cook of the Year was also held on Saturday 5th October when five keen home cooks demonstrated their skills for our judges. Finalists in this category were given a number of specified ingredients that had to be incorporated into their two-course menus:
Chicken – kindly supplied by M C Kelly Ltd
OR
Sea Bream – kindly supplied by Flying Fish Seafoods
Autumn fruits and berries – kindly supplied by Total Produce
You will see details of the finalists, their menus and pictures of the dishes they presented below. The winner of this award will be announced at our awards presentation evening on 22nd October.
Harry Burgess
Plymouth, Devon
Main:
Pan Fried Sea Bream, beetroot purée, sautéed Cornish new potatoes, buttered peas and leeks, lemon and dill crème fraiche
Dessert:
Shortbread Autumn berry tart, Trewithen clotted cream, walnuts, Autumn berry compôte
Gillian Francis
Liskeard, Cornwall
Main:
Roast Spatchcock chicken with herb jus and flavourful autumnal vegetables
Dessert:
Almond berry financier with berry sauce and Cornish cream
Tom Litten
Upottery, Devon
Main:
Pan fried fillet of sea bream on a bed of samphire and tomatoes
Dessert:
Caramelised pear upside down cake with ginger custard
Katriona Watson
Launceston, Cornwall
Main:
Chicken and Chorizo stew with couscous and cavolo nero
Dessert:
‘Foolish’ Autumn berry cocktail with meringue umbrella
Marie-Joelle West
Exeter, Devon
Main:
Pan-fried fillet of bream, potatosotto, salsa verde, buttered shellfish
Dessert:
Caramelised apple shortcake with ginger cream and hazelnut praline
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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