Taste of Staffordshire has officially crowned the winners of its 2012 Taste of Staffordshire Master Chef and Young Chef of Tomorrow competition!
The competition celebrates the culinary expertise of the county’s very best chefs, and this year saw Matthew Warburton from Rouge Recruitment, Stafford, crowned 2012 Master Chef award, and Ruby Rainey, Keele Hall Restaurant, Keele, awarded the 2012 Young Chef of Tomorrow, after winning the same title in 2011!
The winners were chosen after a challenging two hour ‘cook-off’ at Stafford College during the day, which saw 12 finalists, six contestants in each category, prepare a three course meal costing under £20 and using seasonal Staffordshire ingredients such as duck.
Chairman of judges and Group Executive Chef for The Lewis Partnership, Matt Davies, said: “This year we received more entries than we have ever had in our history, and the calibre was so high that even selecting our finalists was difficult. This makes Matthew and Ruby’s awards even more impressive and they should both be very proud of their achievement.”
Matthew and Ruby were pronounced victors and presented with their awards at a gala dinner and ceremony at The Moat House, Acton Trussell, attended by esteemed culinary professionals and a host of dedicated food sponsors. All six finalists in each category were also presented with a commemorative plate and chef’s whites to congratulate them on reaching the final.
Taste of Staffordshire patron and This Morning regular, Sarah Willingham, said: “The positive impact that winning this competition can have on a chef’s career cannot be underestimated, and I am very proud to be involved in this celebration Staffordshire’s culinary talent.
“It was one of the most hotly contested cook-offs I have ever seen in the history of the competition, and Matthew and Ruby are extremely worthy winners. I wish them both the very best of luck with their future careers.”
As this year’s Master Chef winner, Matthew has not only won the much coveted title, but
also receives a cash prize of £1,000 from Staffordshire County Council, £250 from 3663, £250 of Churchill China gift vouchers, annual membership of the British Culinary Federation, a commemorative silver salver and winner’s plate!
Our 2012 Young Chef of Tomorrow, Ruby, will enjoy a week’s work experience at Michelin star fine dining restaurant Simpsons,Birmingham. She also won a commemorative silver salver, winner’s plate and membership of the British Culinary Federation as well as a cash prize of £250 from Staffordshire County Council, £250 from 3663 and £250 of Churchill China gift vouchers!
On winning this year’s Taste of Staffordshire Master Chef title, Matthew Warburton said: “This is the second time that I have taken part in the Taste of Staffordshire Master Chef cook-off and the competition was incredibly close this year. I’m ecstatic to have won and I really enjoyed the experience.”
On being crowned Taste of Staffordshire Young Chef of Tomorrow for the second consecutive year, Ruby Rainey said: “I’m delighted to win for the second year running, especially as the first Young Chef to do it. I learnt so much during my time at Simpsons last year, and it’s a privilege to be going back again.”
A special ‘Hygiene’ award was also granted to Charlotte Cork of the Young Chef competition and Sean Sleigh of the Master Chef competition, both from Burton & South Derbyshire College, by sponsor Chumley Roberts Partnership, which recognised the high standards of hygiene and cleanliness that they upheld during the cook-off.
Initiated by Taste of Staffordshire, the competition has gone from strength to strength since its inception in 2006, and is open to any chef aged 16 and upwards working in the catering industry in Staffordshire.
And now for a list of all our winners……!
Master Chef 2012 winners
1st: Matthew Warburton – Rouge Recruitment,Stafford
2nd: Jeff Thomas – Seasoned Cookery, Staffordshire
3rd: Sean Sleigh,Burton & SouthDerbyshireCollege -Burton upon Trent
Hygiene Award winner: Sean Sleigh -Burton & SouthDerbyshireCollege,Burton upon Trent
Finalists:
- Jamie Lacey – The MiddleBell,Burton upon Trent
- Daniel Smith – The Granary Bar & Grill,WestonPark, Weston-under-Lizard
- Darren Barnes – The Shropshire Inn, Haughton
Young Chef of Tomorrow 2012 winners
1st: Ruby Rainey – Keele Hall Restaurant, Keele
2nd: Rosanna Moseley – Aston Marina Ltd, Stone
3rd: Clarissa Darby – Alton Towers Hotel,Alton
Hygiene Award winner: Charlotte Cork – Burton & South Derbyshire College, Burton upon Trent
Finalists:
- Ryan Shilton – Swinfen Hall Hotel,Lichfield
- Sam Smith – Fifth on Fourth Restaurant, Clough Hall Technology School and Sixth Form College, Stoke-on-Trent
- Charlotte Cork -Burton & SouthDerbyshireCollege,Burton upon Trent
enjoy staffs 