The heat will be turned up a notch in the South West Junior Chef of the Year competition from 25th June when the first of six county finals will take place. Keen young cooks aged 11-16 across the region submitted a wealth of intriguing and original recipes, making the judges’ task of selecting just a few for the county finals a very challenging one!
But they rose to the challenge and selected a number of budding young chefs each of whom has been invited to prepare their recipe for the county judges. One young cook will become the winner in each county and will go through to the South West final in October.
To help build their skills and confidence in the kitchen, each county winner will benefit from mentoring with one of our judges. This will allow them to gain valuable experience of a working kitchen and to develop their dish further in preparation for the final.
Furthermore, each county winner will also have the opportunity to proceed directly to the regional finals of the Springboard FutureChef competition in February, bypassing their local finals.
Thank you very much to all who entered and congratulations to those invited to the county finals (see below) where they will prepare their main course dish using locally sourced ingredients.
Thank you very much to Michael Caines MBE and Lympstone Manor, sponsors of the Junior Chef category, to all of our junior judges and mentors (outlined below) and to the region’s catering colleges who kindly host the county finals.
Cornwall
Cornwall College, Camborne
Thursday 5th July
Judges:
- Stephane Delourme – Head Chef, The Seafood Restaurant, Padstow
- Emily Scott – Chef Proprietor, St Tudy Inn, St Tudy
- Clyde Conellan – Chef Lecturer, Cornwall College
Mentor judge:
Stephane Delourme
Cornwall Junior finalists
- William – Hayle Academy
- Christopher – Penair School, Truro
- Jorgia – Callington Community College
- Nicole – Penair School, Truro
- Max – Pool Academy, Redruth
- Molly – Treviglas Community College, Newquay
Devon
Exeter College
Friday 6th July
Judges:
- Mark Dodson – Chef Proprietor, The Masons Arms, Knowstone
- Scott Paton – Head Chef, Boringdon Hall, Plymouth
- John Wheeler – Head of Hospitality, Exeter College
Mentor judge:
Mark Dodson
Devon Junior finalists
- Chloe – St Luke’s College, Exeter
- Sam – Clyst Vale Community College, Broadclyst
- Ben – Tiverton High School
- Megan – West Exe School, Exeter
- Samantha – Stover School, Newton Abbot
- Callum – Dartmouth Academy
Dorset
Bournemouth and Poole College
Friday 29th June
Judges:
- Russell Brown – Director, Creative About Cuisine
- Pete Murt – Head Chef at Rick Stein, Sandbanks
- David Marshall – Chef Lecturer, Bournemouth & Poole College
Mentor judge:
Pete Murt
Dorset Junior finalists
- Kate – Clayesmore School, Iwerne Minster
- Holly – Lytchett Minster School
- Katie – The Gryphon School, Sherborne
- Poppy – Lytchett Minster School
- Jessie – Lytchett Minster School
- Alicia – Lytchett Minster School
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire College, Cheltenham
Tuesday 3rd July
Judges:
- David Everitt-Matthias – Chef Proprietor, Le Champignon Sauvage
- Gus Ashenford – Chef Proprietor, Restaurant 5 North Street, Winchcombe
- Matt Stead – Chef Lecturer, Gloucestershire College
Mentor judge:
David Everitt-Matthias
Gloucestershire Junior finalists
- Eva – Maidenhill School, Stonehouse
- Madeleine – Maidenhill School, Stonehouse
- Tom – The Castle School, Thornbury
- Leon – Farmor’s School, Fairford
- Aleah – Maidenhill School, Stonehouse
- Chloe – Farmor’s School, Fairford
Somerset
Bridgwater and Taunton College, Taunton
Wednesday 27th June
Judges:
- Liam Finnegan – Head Chef, The Castle Hotel, Taunton
- Elly Wentworth – Sous Chef, Lucknam Park, Bath
- Dean Perry – Chef Lecturer, Bridgwater and Taunton College
Mentor judge:
Liam Finnegan
Somerset Junior finalists
- Charlie – Writhlington School, Radstock
- Bethany – Whitstone School, Shepton Mallet
- Conor – Whitstone School, Shepton Mallet
- James – Queen’s College, Taunton
- Olivia – Queen’s College, Taunton
- Nicole – Hans Price Academy, Weston-super-Mare
Wiltshire
Wiltshire College Trowbridge
Monday 25th June
Judges:
- Tom Westerland – Head Chef, The Brasserie, Lucknam Park, Bath (standing in for Hywel Jones, Executive Chef, Lucknam Park)
- Chris Cleghorn – Head Chef, The Olive Tree, Queensberry Hotel, Bath
- Stephen Lloyd, Chef Lecturer, Wiltshire College
Mentor judge:
Hywel Jones
Wiltshire Junior finalists
- Rhys – Wellington Academy, Tidworth
- Megan – Trafalgar School at Downton
- Hattie – St Edmunds Girls School, Salisbury
- Isobel – Lavington School, Market Lavington
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