South West Chef of the Year 2019: Semi-finalists announced

The semi-finalists and finalists for the prestigious South West Chef of the Year competition have been announced. Judged by a panel of some of the South West’s finest chefs and led by Michael Caines MBE, the finalists have been selected across five categories: Professional, Young Professional, Home Cook, Junior Chef and Student.

South West Chef of the Year is the only competition in the UK that incorporates categories to include all of those interested in cooking. The competition aims to celebrate excellence in the South West’s hospitality industry by identifying skillful and creative chefs and providing them with a platform from which they can learn and develop their careers.

Co-founder and head judge Michael Caines MBE said: “The South West Chef of the Year competition is back for its 16th year and the array of talent has been exceptional. The team of judges have been blown away with the creativity and skills that these chefs have. From home cooks to experienced chefs, the South West is full of culinary talent and we can’t wait to see who goes on to win the categories and the overall award of South West Chef of the Year 2019”.

“Thank you very much to everyone who has entered this year. The competition continues to go from strength to strength with so many outstanding entries and we’re looking forward to a thrilling contest in all five categories. We can say with confidence that the South West is home to an abundance of culinary talent, both among professional chefs and amateur cooks of all ages!”

The Professional, Young Professional and Student categories will now enter the semi-final stage taking place at Exeter College on Saturday 21st September, while those selected in the Home Cook category will go directly to a final at Ashburton Cookery School on Saturday 5thOctober. Here they will be joined by the Junior Chef finalists, who have already won the junior title in their own counties. The grand finals for the Professional, Young Professional and Student/Apprentice Chefs will take place on Wednesday 22nd October at Exeter College followed by an awards presentation evening and dinner at Exeter Golf and Country Club.

Tickets are now available for the awards presentation evening on Wednesday 22nd October. The dinner will be prepared by judges and previous winners of the competition. 2019’s menu will see Elly Wentworth (head chef at The Angel, Dartmouth), Tim Kendall (head chef at The Idle Rocks, St Mawes) and Michael Nizzero (Executive Chef at The Bath Priory) take over the kitchen. Tickets can be purchased online at £95 each at www.southwestchef.co.uk.

South West Chef of the Year 2019 semi-finalists and finalists:

Professional Category Semi-finalists

Fraser Bruce, Head Chef, Halsetown Inn, Halsetown, Cornwall
James Checkley, Head Chef, Kentisbury Grange, Barnstaple, Devon
Joe Cotton, Sous Chef, Boringdon Hall Hotel, Plympton, Devon
Alex Greene, Sous Chef, Lucknam Park, Bath
Scott Harrison-Jones, Chef Proprietor, Shepherd Shack Catering, Exeter, Devon
Luke Hill, Sous Chef, The Idle Rocks, St Mawes, Cornwall
Edward Marsh, Sous Chef, Manor House Hotel, Castle Combe, Wiltshire
Jade Shorney, Head Chef, The Rising Sun Inn, West Bagborough, Somerset
Paul Wearing, Head Chef, The Springer Spaniel, Treburley, Cornwall

Young Professional Category Semi-finalists

Josh Ambridge, Senior Chef de Partie, Lords of the Manor, Upper Slaughter, Gloucestershire
Andy Amour, Demi Chef de Partie, The Idle Rocks, St Mawes, Cornwall
John Brimicombe, Chef de Partie, Boringdon Hall Hotel, Plympton, Devon
Cole Harris, Commis Chef, Custom House, Barnstaple, Devon
Sophie Kennard, Chef de Partie, The Swan, Bampton, Devon
Billy Pounsett-Smart, Chef de Partie, Kentisbury Grange, Barnstaple, Devon
Jordan Randerson, Chef de Partie, The Elephant, Torquay, Devon
Jamaar Semper-House, Chef de Partie, Lucknam Park, Bath

Student/Apprentice Chef Category

Mathew Adcock, Petroc College and The Swan, Bampton, Devon
Oscar Ashley, Bridgwater and Taunton College and the Lord Poulett Arms, Hinton St George, Somerset
Ashley Gilder, Cornwall College, St Austell and The Longstore, Charlestown, Cornwall
Andrei Jurma, Truro and Penwith College and The Gurnard’s Head, Zennor, Cornwall
Sam Loader, Weston College/School of Food and BOX-E, Bristol
Joshua Jay Mannino, Launceston College and Hotel Endsleigh, Milton Abbot, Devon
Joseph Maxwell-Troake, Exeter College and The Galley, Topsham, Devon
Rosie Nevill, Exeter College, Devon
Madeline Puttock, Gloucestershire College
George Schmidt, Truro and Penwith College and Kota, Porthleven, Cornwall
Hazel Stanton, Exeter College and Glazebrook House Hotel, South Brent, Devon
Finley Start, Cornwall College

Home Cook Category Finalists

Harry Burgess, Plymouth, Devon
Gillian Francis, Liskeard, Cornwall
Tom Litten, Upottery, Devon
Katriona Watson, Launceston, Cornwall
Marie-Joelle West, Exeter, Devon

Junior Chef Category Finalists

Finals were held in each of the six counties of the South West during June and July and the winners in each county listed below, will now meet at the final. Each will benefit from mentoring from one of the county judges in preparation for the final.

Cornwall

George – Truro School, Cornwall
Mentor judge: Emily Scott, St Tudy Inn, St Tudy

Devon

Oliver – The Kings School, Ottery St Mary, Devon
Mentor judge: Mark Dodson, The Masons Arms, Knowstone

Dorset

Katie – The Gryphon School, Sherborne, Dorset
Mentor judge: Pete Murt, Rick Stein, Sandbanks

Gloucestershire

Susanna– Katherine Lady Berkeley’s School, Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire
Mentor judge: Gus Ashenford, Restaurant 5 North Street, Winchcombe

Somerset

Munopa – Queen’s College, Taunton, Somerset
Mentor judge: Liam Finnegan, The Castle Hotel, Taunton

Wiltshire

Katherine – The Ridgeway School and Sixth Form College, Wroughton, Wiltshire
Mentor judge: Hywel Jones, Lucknam Park, Bath