Julien Pickersgill named BCF Young Chef of the Year
Julien Pickersgill from the House of Commons, London has been named the British Culinary Foundation Young Chef of the Year 2013.
In second place was Lee Warren, Compass Group, Haileybury College, Hertfordshire and third place went Matthew Ryle, The Dorchester, London.
Now in its 16th year, the competition took place in two heats at University College Birmingham followed by a dinner and awards presentation also at the college.
Pickersgill was presented with his prize the David Bache Trophy, cheque for £250, framed winner's certificate, winner's commemorative plate, and a study trip to Luxembourg courtesy of Villeroy & Boch.
Pickersgill's winning menu comprised, cured line caught Cornish fillet, fennel and Muscat grape salad, elderflower granite and dill oil, followed by Barbury duck, roast szechuan spiced, gingered carrots, foam, purée, charred broccoli and jus. Dessert was Caraibe chocolate Marquise, lime leaf ice cream, organic yoghurt sponge, Bitter chocolate crumb and Mont Tauch "Maury" gel.
Judges were Eric Bruce, chef patron, Restaurant 7, Ironbridge; Idris Caldora MCA, Royal Academy of Culinary Arts; David Colcombe, chef director, Opus Restaurant, Birmingham; Jerry Toth, operations director/executive chef, Sundial Group.
Last year's winner, Ben Champkin of The Elephant, Torquay, went on to win this year's National Young Chef of the Year.
The competitors in full
Matthew Ryle, The Dorchester, Park Lane, London
Edward Marsh, University College Birmingham
Daniel Andree-Parsons, The Black Swan, Ockham, Surrey
Andrew Leonard, Lough Erne Resort, Enniskillen, Northern Ireland
Liam Davies, Tuddenham Mill, Newmarket, Suffolk
Steve Sparks, Saunton Sands Hotel, Braunton, Devon
Russell Barbury, House of Commons, London
Rosanna Moseley, Moat House Hotel, Acton Trussel
Tom Jackson, Hogarth's Hotel, Dorridge
Claire Willett, Wyboston Lakes, Bedfordshire
Julian Lovick, Norwich City College
Craig Bateman, Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst
Leonidas Kattou, Simpson's Restaurant, Birmingham
Julien Pickershill, House of Commons, London
Lee Warren, Compass Group, Haileybury College, Hertfordshire
George Whitelock, The Elephant Restaurant, Torquay
Charlotte Chater, The Queen's, Belbroughton, Worcestershire
