Southern regional finalists of YCYW contest announced

Eight chefs and eight waiters are now going through to the national finals, to be held at Westminster Kingsway College on October 6 after competing in the Southern finals of the Young Chef Young Waiter (YCYW) competition this week.

The winner of the southern regional chef final, held at Thames Valley University, Ealing was Shaun Dickens, L'Ortolan restaurant, Reading. Runner's up were Nicholas Hill, The Ledbury, London W11, Andrew McFadden, Pied a Terre, London W1, Eliza Thomas and Jackson Gilmour, Croydon.

Winner of the southern waiters' competition held at Cliveden yesterday week was Marco Fusato, The Ritz, London W1, followed by runners up Matthew Balman, Gidleigh Park, Chagford, Devon, Sarah Cooper, The Ledbury, London W11 and Julie Doig, Gordon Ramsay at Claridge's, W1.

Chairman of The Restaurant Association, Bob Walton, who presented the prizes, said that the standard of entries this year was as high as ever.

"Once again, Young Chef Young Waiter continues to highlight the talent  that the hospitality industry is producing. This year, the competition  - at Seaham Hall and Cliveden - took a huge step forward with the waiters serving a complete meal to paying guests for the first time in the two regional heats."

Each waiter had to serve a complete meal, including wine and cheese, to a table for two paying guests.

Walton added that the sponsorship of von Essen hotels and the continuing long-standing support of the Savoy Educational Trust, HSBC, Sodexo, S.Pellegrino and Wild Harvest, together with new sponsors for 2009, Laurent Perrier and Matthew Clark, highlighted the importance of the competition in the industry.

Words: Maria Bracken

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