Foster takes university chefs' prize

Paul Foster from the University of Warwick beat 14 other university chefs to scoop first place in the Tilda/TUCO (The University Caterers Organisation) Chef of the Year competition at Blackpool & Fylde College last week.
Competitors had just 90 minutes to prepare 25 portions of an ethnic main course and dessert.
Foster's menu of Thai marinated pavŽ of salmon with coconut and coriander jasmine rice followed by a banana tempura with mango chutney ice impressed the judges, who included Cyrus Todiwala, founder and executive chef at CafŽ Spice NamastŽ, and Steve Munkley, chairman of the Craft Guild of Chefs.
Part of Foster's prize is a week's training at CafŽ Spice NamastŽ.
Runners-up were Simon Wood from the University of Leeds, and Ray Beckinsale from Manchester Metropolitan University.