A total of 12 budding chefs participated in the competition, now in its fifth year, which included a week of professional instruction on kitchen etiquette and cookery skills before undertaking the task of preparing a two course meal in front of a panel of judges. Judges were led by MasterChef 2008 winner James Nathan and included Kim Cowan, Senior Skills Manager, Tourism Skills Network South West and Tortworth Court Chef, Nigel Jones.

Each student benefited from the expert knowledge of mentors from across the city’s top hotel restaurants. Winner, Daniel cooked up a delicious dish of chicken and asparagus on a be of potato rosti; followed by bread and butter pudding infused with banana.

Daniel received an array of prizes including the much coveted Bristol Blue Glass trophy, £100 cash prize, a selection of cookware generously donated by Pampered Chef, and a trophy presented by Destination Bristol to display in his school.

The Bristol Junior Chef Competition was launched in 2004 as an initiative of the Bristol Hotels Association in response to the decreasing number of young people entering the industry. The annual competition is organised in partnership with the Tourism Skills Network West of England, Destination Bristol and City of Bristol College. As part of the recruitment drive, chefs from the City’s top hotel restaurants mentor students in a bid to encourage talented youngsters to enter the industry.

Bristol Junior Chef 2008 prides itself on bringing colleges and industry closer together to work as one force to promote the tourism and hospitality industry. Many students who entered the competition are now going on to study catering at City of Bristol College and undertake Chef Apprenticeships.

Support and fresh produce for the competition were kindly provided by Pampered Chef, A David and Company, M & J Seafood, Identity Design, Call Print, Sunlight Service Group Ltd, Bristol Blue Glass, Fosters Event Catering, and Bristol Farmers Market.