Young, talented chefs from across Cumbria came head-to-head in a two-and-a-half hour cook-off at Kendal College on Friday March 4, closely scrutinised by three of the region’s leading chef judges.
At the cook-off, six of Cumbria’s promising chefs came together to battle it out to win the prestigious title of Cumbria Young Chef of the Year, where the winner will be announced at an award ceremony for the six young finalists at the Best of Lakeland Show Dinner held at Braithwaite Fold, Bowness-on-Windermere, on Thursday 10 March, 7pm. The winner will then go forward to represent Cumbria in the Northwest Regional final.
The show dinner will take place in the marquee under the expert catering of Andrew Southcott and his team and due to sponsorship by local suppliers; the tempting meal offers three delicious courses at only £15ph. Reservations must be made in advance.
The Award-winning Master Chef of Great Britain and former Head Chef at BBC, Brian Mellor, headed up the judging panel at the Cumbria Young Chef of the Year and will be handing out the awards at the dinner.
Master Chef, Brian Mellor commented: ”The Young Chef Awards is a valuable experience for young people and will be an important stepping stone to greater things. It is also fitting that the awards are presented as part of the Best of Lakeland Hospitality Show, Festival of Food, where there will be an impressive line-up of chefs doing cooking demonstrations throughout both days of the Show.”
Photograph shows (left to right): Lee Myers (Guest Judge), Andrew Postlethwaite (Castle Green, Kendal and last year’s winner), Brian Mellor (Master Chef & guest judge),Martin Frickle (Castle Green Hotel), Nigel Crane in the centre (judge from Essential Cuisine), Eban Knowles (Kendal College), Craig Hennessy (The Queens Head, Askham), Kyle Bowman (Rampsbeck Country House, Ullswater) and Alex O’Brien (The Waterhead Hotel, Ambleside).
Cumbria Young Chef of the Year is co-ordinated by Essential Cuisine and the Lakes Hospitality Association are sponsors, with design leader and manufacturers of quality tableware, Villeroy & Boch, sponsoring the special award plates to be presented to the young chefs.
Lakes Hospitality Association’s Show organiser, Gail Bartolf said: “The Cumbria Young Chef awards is an excellent way to demonstrate the talent of young chefs from across Cumbria and provide an outlet for them to explore their drive and passion for food.
“Our aim for the show this year has been clear and that has been to build upon the success we have enjoyed in previous years and grow the festival year on year adding something different each year for our loyal visitors to see.
For 2011, we are adding the Cumbria Young Chef of the Year Awards to our evening event, and by day we have a fabulous Festival of Food and Hospitality Show, housing a farmers market crammed with delicious homemade food and drink.
Amongst the many marvellous offers, we have Pinks Sausages from Staveley, serving up succulent sausages to every visitor in the Food part of the Show – plus in the hospitality trade part of the Show, we have the very best in hospitality products, including Whittakers Embroidery who will be giving out personal embroidered bags to every visitor.”
Following the Show on Sunday, 13 March, 9am-1pm, the marquee becomes home to a massive carboot sale, where the marquee will hold a table-top car boot sale, complete with delicious hot food and drinks and easy on site parking and toilets. For further information contact carboot@lakeshospitality.co.uk or call 07872 822754.
1.The six young chef finalists are:
Alex O’Brien – The Waterhead Hotel, Ambleside, Andrew Postlethwaite – Castle Green Hotel, Kendal, Martin Frickle – Castle Green Hotel, Craig Hennessy – The Queens Head, Askham, Penrith, Eban Knowles – Kendal College, Kyle Bowman – Rampsbeck Country House, Watermillock, Ullswater, Penrith.
2. The Show is supported by Villeroy & Boch, Graphic Design, Althams Catering Butchers, K J exhibitions, The Westmorland Gazette, Essential Cuisine and South Lakeland District Council.
3. The Lakes Hospitality Association, is the principal trade association representing the interests of accommodation providers and others associated with hospitality. They are committed to the maintenance and development of quality operating standards throughout the industry. All their member establishments are subject to an annual inspection and are required to satisfy the Association’s qualifying standard for membership, which is targeted towards standards required for a Three Diamond Grading.
4. Meal sponsors: Dewlay Cheese, Althams Catering Butchers, Parsons Grocers, Brodie Coffee, MJC Foods, McClures, Udales Catering Butcher, English Lakes Icecream and Dale Farm.
5.For full menu details and timetable for Culinary Theatre Demonstrations, see our website