Seafish announces the UK's top 10 young fish fryers
Ten young fish fryers have been shortlisted to compete for the Drywite Young Fish Frier of the Year Award, which is part of the 2017 National Fish & Chip Awards, organised by Seafish UK.
The competitors will attend a judging day at the National Federation of Fish Friers Training School in Leeds, where they will undergo a personal interview and a skills-based assessment.
Five finalists will be chosen to compete before one is crowned the Best Young Fish Frier of 2017 at the National Fish & Chip Awards annual ceremony in London on 26 January 2017.
Briar Wilkinson, sales director at Drywite, said: "Once again the standard of this year's entries has been exceptionally high. It is encouraging to see that so many young fryers are passionate about safeguarding the future of our industry. I'm confident we're in safe hands after seeing the impeccable talent that is evident across the UK."
Marcus Coleman, chief executive at Seafish, explained that the aim of the National Fish & Chip Awards was to showcase the UK's best fish and chip businesses.
"Each year this category gets stronger and more competitive" he said. "To reach the top 10 in a UK-wide competition is a great achievement in itself; it confirms our finalists have started their careers on the right track and are well on their way to becoming the UK's next top fryers."
The 10 semi-finalists are:
- Elise Boothroyd, Fochabers Fish Bar, Fochabers
- Paul Gunn, the Bay Fish and Chips, Sonehaven
- Andrew Hillier, Harbourside Fish & Chips, Plymouth
- James Houlston, Our Plaice, Kidderminster
- Maria Magda Illioiu, the Real Food Café, Tyndrum
- Hank Kloppers, Papa's Fish & Chips, Hull
- George Papadamou, Papa's Fish & Chips, Hull
- Sam Parry, Top Chippy, Llanrwst
- Luke Pope, Bankers Fish Restaurant, Brighton
- Daniel Straughan, Fish & Chips @ 149, Barnard Castle
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