Breakthrough for women in Young Chef Young Waiter
Three female chefs and two female waiters will take part in this year's final of the Young Chef Young Waiter contest, the highest representation of women in the final since the competition began.
The competition, now in its 20th year, is organised by the Restaurant Association in partnership with American Express and the Savoy Educational Trust.
The final takes place on 4 October, with the winners announced at a dinner the same evening.
For the final, chefs and waiters will be paired and will have to cook and serve a three-course meal to an invited audience.
The finalists are:
Chefs
Oliver Lesnik, Whites Club, London
Nathan Green, Thyme, London
Sam Miller, Le Champignon Sauvage, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
Franco Caruso, Lucknam Park, Colerne, Wiltshire
Heidi Pearce, Sharrow Bay Country House Hotel, Ullswater, Cumbria
Amy Ballin, Fernhill Hotel, Portpatrick, Dumfries & Galloway
Lisa Allen, Northcote Manor, Langho, Lancashire
Adam Brown, Gallery Restaurant, Coventry, West Midlands
Waiters
Jean Jacques Danilo, Lucknam Park, Colerne, Wiltshire
Samuel Pitcher, Tylney Hall Hotel, Hook, Hampshire
Nicolas Mori, the Greenhouse, London
William Cristanelli, the Ritz, London
Leah Fellstad, Rhodes 24, London
Christopher Peck, the Red Lion, Leicestershire
Shaine Ohrt, Winteringham Fields, Lincolnshire
Trudy Mallin, Andrew Fairlie at Gleneagles, Perthshire
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