Wilkinson wins top prize in Kikkoman Masters

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Wilkinson: off to Japan

Marc Wilkinson scooped one of the top prizes in the Live Theatre with his success in the Kikkoman Masters 2002. He a won a 10-day working visit to Japan having impressed the judges in the one-hour competition in which 10 competitors had to cook two dishes incorporating Kikkoman Soy Sauce. Wilkinson, 32, head chef of Latymer restaurant at Pennyhill Park Hotel, Bagshot, Surrey, was in a state of shock when the results were announced at a presentation lunch following the competition. "I had a problem with one of my dishes when I couldn't get the crackling from the pork belly to crisp, and ended up leaving it out of the dish," he said. "Although I was happy with everything else, I didn't think I'd won." The judges, though, were unanimous in their decision. "We tasted many superb dishes today, but Marc was the one that that produced two good dishes, not just one," said chairman of the judging panel, Alastair Little. "At the end of the day it was consistency that counted. He also ensured that the soy sauce was an integral part of the dish and not just an extra ingredient." Wilkinson's winning dishes were a tian of courgette and goats cheese with soy and sherry dressing, and marinated pork belly with a caramelised apple compote. Â