Seven aspiring chefs from schools across the south west will vie for the title of South West Junior Chef of the Year this autumn.
Open to 11-16 year olds, competitors for this award were asked to prepare a main course dish using principally locally-sourced ingredients.
Following fiercely contested county heats, held at catering colleges across the South West region, we are delighted to announce the line-up for the final which takes place at Exeter College on 5th October.
Each of the finalists will be supported by one of our county judges who will help them to further develop their dishes for the final. Sharing their wisdom and expertise with competitors, mentor chefs will help them to build their skills and confidence in the kitchen.
Well done to all the young cooks who competed in the county finals and thank you very much to our team of expert judges. And many congratulations to the winners in each county, outlined below.
Co-founder of the South West Chef of the Year competition and chef/patron at Lympstone Manor in Devon, Michael Caines MBE DL, said the standard of cooking by the young chefs had been very high.
He added: “This year’s regional finals were highly competitive, showcasing excellent dishes crafted from regional ingredients. We are committed to developing new talent and the high quality of cooking demonstrated by these junior chefs not only highlights their skills but also underscores the importance of nurturing and supporting emerging talent in the culinary world.”
Thanks to a partnership with Springboard FutureChef, all seven county finalists have the opportunity to go through to the FutureChef regional final in January 2025, bypassing the local rounds of the competition, to compete for a place in the FutureChef national final.
And the overall winner of South West Junior Chef of the Year will be offered the much sought-after opportunity of work experience with Michelin-starred chef, David Everitt-Matthias, at his highly respected restaurant, Le Champignon Sauvage in Cheltenham.
This year’s event culminates with the finals of the Professional and Student/Apprentice Chef categories on Tuesday October 29 at Exeter College, which is followed that evening by the Awards Presentation Dinner at Exeter Golf and Country Club.
Tickets for the Awards Evening will soon be available to purchase. The evening features a four-course meal cooked by judges and previous competition winners and offers a unique opportunity to sample high quality food cooked by the region’s best chefs.
Cornwall
Cornwall College, Camborne
Cornwall Junior Chef of the Year 2024
For the second consecutive year, our judges awarded the title jointly to two young chefs:
Freya – Penrice Academy, St Austell
and
Sam – Penrice Academy, St Austell
Freya cooked pan-fried hake, cauliflower four ways, hazelnut and sea greens beurre noisette, squid ink tuille.
Sam’s dish was pan-fried duck breast with creamy mashed potato, sticky shallots, spinach, mushrooms, duck leg bonbon and red wine sauce.
Judges:
- Tim Kendall – Chef Proprietor, The Barley Sheaf, Gorran and The Rising Sun, Altarnun
- Aiden Blakely-May, Head Chef, The Ugly Butterfly, Carbis Bay
- Stephane Delourme – consultant and private chef
- Clyde Conellan – Chef Lecturer, Cornwall College
Mentor judge:
Pete Murt – Head Chef, Rick Stein’s Seafood Restaurant, Padstow
Cornwall Junior finalists
- Alex – Helston Community College
- Freya – Penrice Academy, St Austell
- George – Truro School
- Jack-Richard Lander School, Truro
- Sam – Penrice Academy, St Austell
- Tom – Truro School
Devon
Exeter College
Devon Junior Chef of the Year 2024
Tom – Trinity School, Teignmouth
Tom cooked Surf ‘n Turf Ravioli with a Dill and Lime Hollandaise and a Roasted Garlic King prawn
Judges:
- Mark Dodson – Chef Proprietor, The Masons Arms, Knowstone
- Matthew Pickett – Hospitality Curriculum Manager, Exeter College
Mentor judge:
Scott Paton – Executive Chef, Àclèaf, Boringdon Hall Hotel, Plympton/Mark Dodson – The Mason’s Arms, Knowstone
Devon Junior finalists
- Archie – South Molton Community College
- Freya – Honiton Community College
- Isla – Okehampton Community College
- Jasper – Glendinning Academy, Newton Abbot
- Jessica – Torquay Girls’ Grammar School
- Kadence – The King’s School, Ottery St Mary
- Kieren – DEvonport High School for Boys
- Tom – Trinity School, Teignmouth
Dorset
Weymouth College
Dorset Junior Chef of the Year 2024
Harry – Lytchett Minster School
Harry cooked Dorset fillet steak with Blue Vinny sauce, Pommes Anna, burnt Roscoff onions and asparagus
Judges:
- Jamie Jones – Chef Proprietor, Yalbury Cottage, Lower Bockhampton
- Alan Kelly – Chef Lecturer, Weymouth College
Mentor judge:
Sam Hughes – Head Chef at Rick Stein, Sandbanks
Dorset Junior finalists
- Florence – Clayesmore School, Iwerne, Minster
- Harry – Lytchett Minster School
- Lucia Garcia – Clayesmore School, Iwerne Minster
- Rose – Gillingham Secondary School
Gloucestershire
Bath College
Gloucestershire Junior Chef of the Year 2024
Lexie – Churchdown School Academy, Gloucester
Lexie cooked cooked pan-seared duck breast with a red wine reduction
Judges:
- Ed Marsh – Head Chef, The Manor House Hotel, Castle Combe
- Nathan Johnson – Junior Sous Chef, The Royal Crescent Hotel, Bath
- Kirk Williams – Chef Lecturer, Bath College
Mentor judge:
Nathan Johnson – Junior Sous Chef, The Royal Crescent Hotel, Bath
Gloucestershire Junior finalists
- Gully – Hillesley School, Wotton-under-Edge
- Katherine – Henley Bank High School, Brockworth
- Lexie – Churchdown School Academy, Gloucester
- Nicole – Henley Bank High School, Brockworth
- Shantaye – Henley Bank High School, Brockworth
- Shreyan – Kings School, Gloucester
Somerset
Bridgwater and Taunton College, Taunton
Somerset Junior Chef of the Year 2024
Kai – Merchants Academy, Bristol
Kai cooked venison leg cooked in hay with roast celeriac and braised red cabbage
Judges:
- Ben Champkin – Head Chef, Teals, South Cadbury
- Olly Jackson – Head Chef, Mount Somerset Hotel, Henlade
- James Jones – Chef Lecturer, Bridgwater and Taunton College
Mentor judge:
Olly Jackson – Head Chef, Mount Somerset Hotel, Henlade
Somerset Junior finalists
- Amira – Holyrood Academy, Chard
- Henry – Queen’s College, Taunton
- Jenson – Clevedon School
- Joel – Sidcot School, Winscombe
- Kai – Merchants Academy, Bristol
- Oliver – Court Fields School, Wellington
- Tanaya – Westfield Academy, Yeovil
- Theo – Westfield Academy, Yeovil
Wiltshire
Wiltshire College Trowbridge
Wiltshire Junior Chef of the Year 2024
James – St John’s School, Marlborough
James cooked home-cured pancetta tortellini with a touch of butternut squash
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
- Benjamin – Appleford School, Shrewton
- Eva – Sheldon School, Chippenham
- Lucas – Royal Wootton Bassett Academy
- James – St John’s School, Marlborough
- Ruby – Sheldon School, Chippenham
- Scarlett – Sheldon School, Chippenham
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