Churchill China : PROUD SPONSORS OF THE NATIONAL AND JUNIOR CHEF OF WALES COMPETITION

PROUD SPONSORS OF THE NATIONAL AND JUNIOR CHEF OF WALES COMPETITION

There were early St David's day celebrations for Gavin Kellett and Sion Hughes as they were crowned the National and Junior Chef ofWales last month. Held at Grwp Llandrillo Menai's Rhos-on-Sea campus, the competition is part of the three day Welsh Culinary Championships event this year held between Tuesday 26th-Thursday 28th February.

Chefs were tasked with creating three courses using mainly Welsh produce to be served on Churchill Isla tableware.

Kellett, head chef of the Three Horseshoes Inn at Brecon impressed the four judges by opening with a Waldolf Salad starter consisting of poached celeriac, burnt apple and walnut bread, followed by a main course of Butty Bach glazed fillet of Welsh beef, braised oxtail, Menai oyster, baked potato foam, beef dripping carrots and grain crust. His finale was a dessert of Coco Pzazz dark chocolate and Penderyn Whiskey cheesecake with peanuts, Welsh honeycomb, and Halen Mon salted caramel.

Speaking of the competition, Gavin said 'I am very surprised to have won, it has been very hectic over the last three or four days preparing for this so to have won is up there with the best days of my career. I try to do things a bit different with my own twist on classics. I have done well in competitions before, but this is probably the biggest achievement for me.

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1 - Starter served on Isla footed plate WHISIF101

2 - Main course served on Isla presentation plate WHISIP121 with sauce in the Isla unhandled jug WHISIUG21

3 - Dessert served on Isla plate WHISIF111

Junior Chef winner Sion Hughes of Carden Park created a winning combination of Jerusalem artichoke and wild mushroom risotto to start, followed by a herb crusted Rhug Estate loin of lamb with shoulder fritter, ratte mash, pickled onion and dust, and beer vinegar. He created a rhubarb tart for dessert with vanilla cremeux, honey glass, yoghurt and honey sorbet.

Talking of his achievement, Sion said 'I am absolutely thrilled to have won, but I have to admit that I am shocked!' I wasn't expecting to win at all. The other three chefs are of a very good calibre so the standard was high in the final. To have won is brilliant. It will take a while to sink in.'

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1 - Starter served on Isla footed plate WHISIF101 with sauce in the Isla unhandled jug WHISIUG21

2 - Main course served Isla plate WHISIF111

3 - Dessert served on Isla footed plate WHISIF101

Churchill is very proud to sponsor the Welsh Culinary Championships including the national and Junior Chef of Wales competitions and are delighted to provide tableware to the most talented chefs in the region.

For further details on the range used in this competition, please click here.