Coup de Pates' Chefs at Play finalists unveiled

Each candidate will compete in the nationwide Coup de pates’ Chefs at Play competition in a bid to win a no expense spared trip to Paris and the opportunity to help create a brand new product for the UK.

The five finalists aged between 16-25 include Shaun Longmire, self-employed pastry chef, Eleny Islay Minto, part-time pastry chef, University College Birmingham, Alice Prothero, apprentice chef, Houndgate Townhouse, Darlington, Jack Ellingham, chef, Climpson’s Arch, Hackney and Emily Moorhouse, commis chef, Shrewsbury College.

Entrants were initially asked to submit a recipe for a brand new canapé or reception product using one of its premium semi-prepared range, including Choux Pastry Profiterole Shells, Filo Pastry Sheets, Mini Macaroon Shells and Savoury Tartelette Cases, as a base. The final five were then selected based on their scores from the first round of the competition.

Contestants will now have to bring their dishes to life as a panel of judges determine who will be the lucky winner and get to travel to Paris to work in their development kitchens. The judges include chef ambassadors James Tanner and Thomas Leatherbarrow alongside Coup de pates’ in-house development chefs.

Head of Marketing and Product Development for Coup de pates, Mariam French, said: “The competition now heats up as our finalists bring their dishes together for real – we can’t wait to remake and taste them before taking our winner to Paris for the development day of a lifetime. Once there, they will have a hand in creating a brand new product for the UK market. Something truly special.”

The Chefs at Play competition was launched by Coup de pates in October with hopes to find the UK's most promising young pastry chef.

The winner is set to be announced in January, 2016.