The Craft Guild of Chefs announce the 15 chefs who have made it through to the final of the Graduate Awards 2017 which also celebrates its fifteenth anniversary this year.

The chefs, all under the age of 23, battled for their place in the final at heats which were held simultaneously at the University of West London and Sheffield College on Thursday, June 15, 2017. 

Vice-president of the Craft Guild of Chefs, Steve Munkley said: “When you look at the list of chefs going through to the final exam, I think we’ve got our strongest one yet. We really threw in a curveball as the chefs were asked to create a dish using Quorn, courtesy of our sponsor. It is an ingredient that very few will use regularly in their own workplaces but it was amazing to see the ideas and dishes they came up with. I’m delighted that we have reached our 15th year and have added the Pastry Award into the mix. Over recent year’s we’ve seen former Graduates go on to win Young National Chef of the Year and two of them, Luke Selby and Ben Champkin join the 2018 senior final. It shows what a fantastic platform the Graduate Awards can provide.”

Russell Bateman, chair of examiners added: “We saw some really impressive cooking at the heats. The exam is very focused on chefs’ skills and culinary knowledge and that’s why I am so proud to judge. The list of establishments putting young chefs into this exam is great to see and a testament to how highly regarded the Graduate Awards are in UK kitchens. My advice to all the finalists is put in the work over the next two months as on the day the chefs that stand out will be those who have practised, listened to advice at the mentor day and can show us how much they want this.”

This year’s successful chefs will be announced at a special celebration lunch cooked by former graduates Richard Edwards, Mark Froydenlund and Selin Kiazim. 

The final exam will take place at University College Birmingham on Tuesday, August 22, 2017. 

The chefs going through to the Graduate Awards 2017 final are:

Kitchen Award

Ioannis Mexis, Elystan Street
Bronwen Jenkins, The Royal Garden Hotel
Jessica Deakin, The Compasses Inn
Joe Payne, Andre Garrett Restaurant Cliveden House
Gilles Varone, Petrus restaurant
Raymond Steplin, House of Commons
Chor Fai Shek, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay
Vince Vermeulen, Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons
William Keeble, Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons
Adam Phillips, Colette’s at the Grove
Lewis Kuciers, the Black Bull at Blidworth
Rory Seaman, Wiltons

Pastry Award

Amy Rose Plumb, Titchwell Manor Hotel
Lorenzo Fleurie, Islington County House Hotel
Hannah Catley, Chiltern Firehouse

>>> Read more about The Craft Guild of Chefs Graduate Awards here