Young Chef Olympiad crowns UK champion for first time in competition's history

Kamran Taylor has become the first UK participant to win the Young Chef Olympiad (YCO), one of the world’s largest culinary competitions for young chefs.

The 18-year-old student chef from London, who is a third-year student at Capital City College’s culinary and hospitality school, represented England with the financial backing of the Savoy Educational Trust, and successfully secured gold.

He beat competitors from more than 50 countries with his fish dish of baked barramundi with mousse.

Taylor’s passion for cooking grew during lockdown and his parents were supportive of his new-found pastime.

He is now working towards his Professional Chef Diploma, spends his weekends teaching at the college’s Young Baker Academy and is about to embark on work experience at Conrad London St James’s Street.

Angela Joyce, chief executive at Capital City College, said: “This is an extraordinary achievement, not just for our student but for the UK’s culinary scene as a whole. Winning against the world’s best young chefs is a testament to the exceptional training, talent, and passion that we cultivate at Capital City College, Westminster.”

The YCO was launched in 2015 by the International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM) and challenges participants to demonstrate their technique, creativity and presentation skills.

Capital City College has 10 centres across London for 16-18 year-olds, adult learners, apprentices and businesses.