Exmoor Young Chef Finalists Announced

Visit Exmoor are pleased to announce the finalists of the Exmoor Young Chef Competition 2023.

Seven hopeful applicants aged 12-16 years are being partnered with professional mentors to help them prepare for the event. The finalists from across the Greater Exmoor region will be mentored over the summer by some of the area’s top chefs.  

The chefs will help the young cooks craft a three-course meal for two people, showcasing at least two ingredients of seasonal and local Exmoor provenance. The competition will be held on 7th October 2023 at West Somerset College, Minehead.

The Exmoor Young Chef Competition 2023 is organised by Visit Exmoor and supported by Exmoor National Park Authority, Rotary Club Minehead, Brend Hotels, Petroc College and Bridgwater & Taunton College.

The finalists are:

Amy Wickens, Leon Benyon-Pearce, Romesh Molligoda, Fred Percival, Oliver Parsons, Sapphire Haddon and Katrina Nightingale.

Emma Thomasson CEO of Visit Exmoor said, “It’s so exciting to see the Exmoor Young Chef Competition kicking off for a 2nd year.  We have amazing professional chefs across Exmoor who come together with us and other area partners for this brilliant event.  We are passionate about motivating young people to consider rewarding careers locally in hospitality and this event showcases talent and highlights all the opportunities to work in hospitality across the area.”

The winner and finalists will be allocated a series of top prizes including a day with the English National Culinary Team, work experience at the Michelin starred Masons Arms, a video cookery masterclass and a cookery demonstration at Barnstaple Food Fair amongst many others.

The competition is part of a larger project to develop a Centre of Excellence for Hospitality in the area, celebrating the Exmoor food scene and encouraging young people to consider exciting careers in this dynamic and exciting industry. This initiative is supported by Master Chef judge and food critic William Sitwell.

Mollie Foster of Minehead Rotary said: “I am very impressed with the enthusiasm of these young cooks creating their dishes and showing off their culinary passion at such a young age. I am also excited to see what these talented chefs of the future prepare and present on the day, particularly with the focus on locally sourced ingredients which is an integral part of the competition”.

For more information, visit www.visit-exmoor.co.uk

Released On 3rd Aug 2023