Young Professional Chef

Brief for entry stage of competition

Menu:
Two courses – starter and main course

Quantity:
To serve three

Time allowed:
90 minutes

Ingredients:
To include the judges’ specified ingredients in any course accompanied by ingredients of your choice that should be seasonal and locally produced/grown/reared wherever possible.  Our judges have selected the protein ingredients which must be incorporated into your menu.  You may choose to use them in either course.

The compulsory protein ingredients for 2024 are:

• Venison loin (800g) plus bones supplied separately – kindly supplied by M C Kelly
• Green and smoked pork belly (optional) – available in shared larder – kindly supplied by M C Kelly
• Scallops (in the shell) – either 3 x large or up to 6 x medium – kindly supplied by Flying Fish Seafoods

Notes:

No pre-prepared elements permitted, with the exception of homemade stocks

Meat, fish and seafood ingredients will be provided whole, on the bone/in the shell and you will need to carry out any butchery/filleting you wish during the competition

N.B. When selecting your seasonal menu, please don’t forget that the semi-finals will be held on 28th September!

Entry

Please send us your recipes (including method) and photographs for each course. Entries for 2024 will close on Wednesday 7th August.

Important notes

• The ingredients selected by the judges must be included in all menus submitted by entrants.  These ingredients may be used in either the starter or the main course.
• Selected entrants will be provided with the required quantity of each of these ingredients for the semi-final.  All other ingredients must be provided by competitors.
• Ingredients used in competitors’ menus should be locally grown/reared/produced wherever possible.
• Competitors must only include elements in their dishes that can be prepared from scratch during the allotted competition time.
• With the exception of home-made stocks, no pre-prepared elements will be permitted and if present, will be confiscated or discounted from the judging process.
• Competitors must minimse wastage in the kitchen throughout the preparation of their menus at the competition.

See below for further notes about the compulsory ingredients and the rules of the competition.

The semi-final

Selected entrants will be invited to attend the semi-final on Saturday 28th September at Exeter College, where they will be asked to prepare their proposed menus for three people in one and a half hours.  The judges will then select a number of finalists who will be invited to return for the final on Tuesday 29th October. 

The final

Those selected for the final will be asked to prepare a three-course meal for three people in three hours, using compulsory protein elements announced one week before the final.  All other ingredients will be provided in a mystery box on the day.

Upon receiving their mystery boxes, finalists will have 30 minutes to draw up their three-course menu and will be asked to provide the judges with the names of their three chosen dishes before cooking begins.  Basic reference recipes can be referred to during the 30 minutes of preparation time.

Competitors will not need to bring any ingredients with them to the final, with the exception of pre-prepared stocks.  The judges will specify the types of stocks that will be permitted prior to the final.

The winner will be announced at the awards presentation dinner on the evening of 29th October, to which each finalist will be invited.

Important notes about the compulsory ingredients

• Where the compulsory ingredient you are given is a whole bird or fish, you may use the whole bird or fish or any part of it in your dish.
• At the competition, you will receive the ingredients whole and must prepare them as you wish within the competition time, including all butchery/filleting.
• Once the judges have selected the entrants to invite to the next round, we will contact you to obtain your orders for your compulsory ingredients.  You are asked not to order more than required.
• Seasonality – if you are unable to obtain the specific ingredients for photography at the time of entry, it is suggested that you use a similar ingredient for the photographs, for the purposes of demonstrating your presentation style. The judges will take this into consideration when judging all entries.

Rules of the competition

• Entrants must be living or working in the six counties of the South West: Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire or Gloucestershire
• Competitors must only include elements in their dishes that can be prepared from scratch during the allotted competition time.  With the exception of home-made stocks, no pre-prepared elements will be permitted and if present, will be confiscated or discounted from the judging process.
• Photographs of all dishes entered must be sent when entering, along with full recipes including the method.
• Selected semi-finalists will be asked to bring all of their own ingredients to the semi-final, with the exception of the compulsory ingredients nominated by the judges that must be included in all menus
• Selected semi-finalists are advised to bring all of their own equipment and presentation dishes to the competition to ensure that all required equipment is available. Competition sponsor, Churchill, will supply all presentation dishes for the final.
• Young Professional final – finalists will be given 30 minutes to devise their three-course menu before the competition begins.  Basic reference recipes can be referred to during the 30 minutes but these must be available for the judges to look through too. Detailed recipe collections will not be permitted.
• Competitors must minimise wastage of ingredients at all stages of the competition.
• Competitors must be within the stipulated age bracket on the day of the final of the category that they wish to enter.  Proof of age may be requested at the semi-final.
• The judging panel will be divided among the professional, young professional and student classes during both the semi-finals and finals, since these take place on the same day.
• If any of the judges knows of any of the competitors, they will not be included in the panel judging that particular competitor’s category.
• Only the names of those selected for the semi-finals and finals will be publicised.  We do not make public the names of any entrants not selected for the semi-finals and finals.
• A professional photographer will photograph the semi-finals and finals of the competition, as well as the awards evening, to provide photographs for our promotional purposes (website, social media, press releases etc.)  In entering the competition you agree to be photographed.  You will be sent copies of some of the photographs for your own use.
• Entrants enter and participate in the South West Chef of the Year competition entirely at their own risk.
• Entries must be received by no later than midnight on the day of the closing date . There will be no extension to this closing date.
• The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.