Manson carries off young chef accolade
A first-year hospitality student at Glenrothes College in Fife has carried off the title of Hilton Scotland and Ireland Young Chef of the Year 2002 in his first individual competition.
Twenty-year-old Adrian Manson beat four other finalists in a three-hour cook-off at Motherwell College last month. The finalists were picked from hundreds of entries from 16- to 25-year-olds from across Scotland and Ireland and were tasked with producing a three-course meal for four covers with a budget of £30.
Manson's winning menu comprised a starter of twice-baked blue cheese soufflé with beetroot salad, smoked duck breast, rocket leaves with walnut vinaigrette, caramelised walnuts, deep-fried beetroot and beetroot essence; a main course of fillet of salt cod with herbed gnocchi ratatouille, wilted spinach, mussels in a ginger fish velouté with basil and chilli oil and a won ton fritter filled with aubergine caviar; and caramelised banana bavarois with passion fruit glaze, fruit salsa, coconut ice-cream, banana tatin, mango coulis and dried banana wafer for dessert.
"My three dishes turned out well so the many hours of practice were obviously worth it," said Manson, who works part-time as a commis chef at Balbirnie House hotel, Markinch, Fife. "My aim now is to be picked for the Scottish Junior Culinary Team."
Manson was a support chef to the gold and silver medal-winning Glenrothes team at Hotelympia and college tutor Norman Bendex paid tribute to his latest achievement: "He has set himself high standards and so far he has met every one."
