Golden Apron 2015 names 18-year-old Kurtus Auty as winner

16 November 2015 by Hannah Thompson

Kurtus Auty, an 18-year-old chef from Selby, North Yorkshire, has won the Golden Apron 2015 competition to be crowned the best young chef in Yorkshire.

It its third year, the contest is run by James Mackenzie, Michelin-starred chef-owner of the Pipe and Glass Inn, near Beverley, along with the Yorkshire Wolds Cookery School and farming company JSR. It is open to young chefs aged 14-19 from across the county.

The prize included a work placement with sponsor and food supplier Cranswick, plus the chance to help create a new product for Asda supermarkets.

Auty, who is a Level 2 Professional Cookery student at Selby College, beat runners up Zacharias Abbot, 16, a Level 2 Professional Cookery student from Stamford Bridge; and Jemima Harpin, 15, from Nun Monkton, who is studying GCSEs including food and nutrition.

Each of the three got through to the final after having cooked their own pork dish, plus a pudding recipe provided by Mackenzie, at the semi-final at the Yorkshire Wolds Cookery School last month.

The final took place at the Pipe and Glass Inn, and saw the hopefuls asked to cook a starter-sized dish of their own design for 70 guests. Auty's winning plate was of herb-crusted fillet of pork, apple and black pudding bon bon, with Ampleforth Cider and butternut squash purée. Mark Richmond, innovation development chef at ASDA, also supported the final stage.

Abbot created a Two Chefs-ale-braised shin of Yorkshire wagyu beef, with pumpkin boulangère and purée, kale and horseradish; while Jemima's contribution to the menu was smoked haddock and leek tart with a poached hen's egg, mashed potato and Cheddar crust.

JSR chief executive Tim Rymer commented that the standard of entries to this year's competition was the highest yet, and Fiona Lambert, ASDA's vice president - brand design and development, who announced the winner, said: "Kurtus will be working with us to create a new product, which is the lifeblood of our business."

Other sponsors of the event included Hodgson Fish, wine merchants House of Townend, catering clothing and equipment suppliers Russums, ingredients suppliers Wellocks, and the Yorkshire Wagyu Company.