Finalists revealed for British Culinary Federation Chef of the Year 2023
Fourteen finalists have been announced for the annual British Culinary Federation (BCF) Chef of the Year competition.
The winner will be revealed on 12 June following a two-hour final at the University College Birmingham kitchen, where chefs will present a three-course meal for two covers.
The starter must feature fish, while the main must include grass-fed Irish beef, which has been sponsored by Aubrey Allen and Bord Bia.
The dessert should include pure Canadian maple syrup from sponsors Maple from Canada UK.
The champion of the competition will be rewarded with two overseas trips – one to Canada and one to Ireland – and receive a cash prize of £2,000.
Second and third-place finalists will each receive £500 and £250 respectively.
Judges for the final include: Tom Phillips, Gary Jones, Sally Abe, Brad Carter, Ashley Palmer-Watts, and last year's winner, Leo Kattou.
Peter Griffiths, president of BCF, said: "Final preparations are all in place ahead of the cook-off. Every year we are blown away with the level of talent that enters the competition, and every year the bar is set higher."
The full list of finalists are below:
Mark Stinchcombe, Executive Chef at The Barn at Severn & Wye Smokery
Ben Taylor, chef patron, Le Petit Bois, Moseley
Matt Nicholls, head chef, Cheal's Restaurant, Knowle
Dan Androne, head chef, the Forrest Hotel, Dorridge
Laura Kimber, head chef, Salt, Stratford Upon-Avon
Gary Kilminster, development chef, Essential Cuisine
Jamie Park, executive chef, Adam Handling Restaurant
Matthew Ramsdale, senior sous chef
Harvey Perttola, head chef, L'Ortolan Restaurant, Reading
Luke Ellul, executive chef, Baxter Storey, Farrer & Co
Conor Bird, House of Commons, London
Kevin Buck, sous chef, Hide Restaurant, London
Kristian Curtis, head chef, the Table, De Banke Group
Matthew Smith, Cheshire South and West College
