Sizzling Cook Off Decides Sussex Young Chef of the Year

Local Sussex ingredients were showcased at their best in the autumn menus of six young Sussex chefs who took part in a sizzling ‘MasterChef’ style cook off at the Amex Stadium in Brighton on Thursday 27th October

The heat was turned up and the competition was fierce to decide the winner of the title ‘Sussex Young Chef of the Year’, sponsored by Sodexo Prestige, as part of the Sussex Food and Drink Awards 2017.

Anna Shopland from The Fountain Inn in Plumpton Green; one of last year’s Grand Finalists, Michael Sutherland from The Star Inn in Alfriston and Rachel Burroughs from South Lodge Hotel in Lower Beeding, were thrilled to be presented with gold medals as they were announced as this year’s Grand Finalists.

They fought off some very tough competition as all the young chefs performed at their very best and delivered some outstanding menus. Silver medalists included Adam Sear from The Fox Eating and Drinking House in West Hoathly, Jose Ferreira from The Sussex Ox in Polegate and Mark Smith from The Ginger Pig in Brighton. The six chefs also received a fantastic Thermapen thermometer and goodie bag from SuperFast Thermapen, who were the sponsors of the Sussex Eating Experience of the Year category.

The chefs were asked to create a three course dinner with ingredients from Sussex producers, farmers and growers, which might be served to the 400 guests at the Sussex Food and Drink Awards banquet, taking place on 1 February 2017 at the Amex Stadium. It will be at this ceremony where the overall winner of Sussex Young Chef of the Year will be presented with their winning trophy.

Malcolm Emery, Principal Chef at Sodexo Prestige headed up the judging panel and joining him for the first time this year was Great British Menu champion, Matt Gillan and Ben Dutson, Head Chef at Ascot Racecourse. They were looking at taste, presentation, market appeal and consumer trends used in the menus.

Malcolm Emery said: “Each year the standard of food these talented young chefs produce simply gets better and better and they should all feel immensely proud of their efforts today. To produce top quality dishes with a limited budget of £15 per person and in just 90 minutes is always very impressive. They all have extremely bright futures and I congratulate each of them for getting this far in this incredibly tough competition.”

Other categories in these sought-after awards include best Sussex eating experience, food producer, drink producer, farmer, food/farm shop, butcher, farmers market, newcomer and street food vendor. Grand Finalists in all remaining categories will be announced in November and all the winners will be revealed on 1 February 2017 at a BAFTA-style ceremony hosted by awards patron, Sally Gunnell OBE and Danny Pike from BBC Sussex. Tickets for the ceremony are now on sale and include a spectacular seven-course Sussex produce banquet produced by Sodexo Prestige at the Amex Stadium.

For more information about the awards and ticket sales go to www.sussexfoodawards.biz