The UK South Asian Chef Competition (SACC), a UK National competition that is recognized and validated by the Craft Guild of Chefs. reached its climax this week with eight chefs left in the running for the prestigious title. In a very close fought contest, the judges awarded the title to Mariappan Sethurajapillai, from Deli 6 Restaurant in Sutton, who wins the first prize of £2,000 and membership of Craft Guild of Chefs.
A delighted Mariappan said he was overjoyed at winning the coveted title, his second SACC win, winning this same competition 10 years ago.
The other winners:
- £1,000 2nd Prize: Kevin Hughes -Chef Tutor at the International Academy Culinary Arts, Leeds City College
- £750 3rd Prize: Bishal Rasaily from Pushkar Cocktail Bar & Dining Birmingham
- The Healthy Dish Award was presented to Ranjit Salian from CH & CO Group, The Law Society London
- The Innovative Dish award was presented to Rehan Ahmed from S&A Foods Derby
The winners were presented with their trophies at Aagrah’s spectacular 33rd Annual Business Dinner October, held at the Magna Science Centre, Rotherham, near Sheffield attended by over 800 high profile business guests and dignitaries. Each year the Aagrah Dinner support charities, andthis year’s beneficiaries are Weston Park Hospital Cancer Care, Sheffield and Mosaic. The dinner achieved the highest amount raised at any Aagrah Dinner with this year’s total hitting £125,000.
The competition was judged by Chair of Judges, Andrew Green, Vice President and Governor of The Craft Guild of Chefs; Alan Colley, from Major International Ltd; Stephen Gomes, Moksh Restaurant, Cardiff; Stephanie Moon Consultant Chef; Andy Bray of Bradford College
The competition is open to all restaurateurs and their chefs and any restaurant nominated by their customers for their Asian Cuisine. The 8 finalists were asked to produce creative, adventurous, innovative dishes using their own original recipes in a bid to win the title of The UK South Asian Chef 2015.