Restaurant Story executive chef Tom Philips to represent UK at Bocuse d'Or

Tom Philips, executive chef at the two-Michelin-starred Restaurant Story in London, has been chosen to represent the UK at the next Bocuse d'Or global culinary competition.

The selection process took place at the University of West London on 8 September. Chris Emery, executive chef at Orelle in Birmingham, was the other finalist.

The chefs had four hours and five minutes to produce and present a plated dish of Scottish scallop sponsored by Seafood Scotland and a saddle of lamb platter sponsored by Aubrey Allen.

Philips' winning menu included ceviche of hand-dived scallop, tomato consommé, vanilla and pickled peppers.

His platter featured stuffed saddle of lamb, black pudding, sweetbreads, artichoke, amandine, roasted mushroom tourné, warm chive emulsion, lamb jus and mint oil.

The chefs were judged by a jury including Clare Smyth (Bocuse d'Or UK president), Adam Bennett (Bocuse d'Or technical director and the UK's most successful candidate to date), Alex Dilling (honorary judge) and Ian Musgrave (UK candidate 2019-2023).

It will be the second time Philips has represented the UK as candidate in the Bocuse d'Or. He and his then commis chef Nathan Lane secured a place in the final at the European heats in Turin in 2018 and came 10th in Lyon in 2019.

Phillips was supported by commis chef Harry Van Leirop, while Zach Shaw worked alongside Emery.

Smyth said: "There is no doubt that it's a challenging time in UK hospitality and to represent your country in the Bocuse d'Or is a massive undertaking for any chef.

"This considered, we are lucky to have two such strong candidates compete today in the national selection. We have a worthy winner in Tom, but it was very encouraging to see the standards set by both the chefs and their commis today."

Andreas Antona, chair of Bocuse d'Or UK and founder of the Bocuse d'Or UK Academy, added that he was highly impressed with Emery and Shaw and had offered them the chance to shadow Philips in his preparations.

French chef Paul Bocuse, who died in 2018, launched the Bocuse d'Or global cooking competition in 1987.

The UK has yet to reach the podium; the closest it came was in 2013 when Adam Bennett and Kristian Curtis reached fourth place.