von Essen hotels Sponsors 'Wiltshire Chef of The Year'

von Essen hotels has announced that it will be the headline sponsor for the first annual 'Chef of the Year' competition held in September by Wiltshire College.

The competition has been created to find talented chefs from Wiltshire College in Trowbridge, Chippenham and Salisbury who are on full and part time level two catering courses.

The competition begins in the first week of May with preliminary rounds at each college to test the basic skills of entrants. 

After the contestants have been judged on site, the top three students from each college will go through to the final round on the 15th of June, making a total of nine entrants.

Each finalist will be required to design a three-course menu that can be prepared, cooked and presented within three hours. 

A panel of professionals, including Chris Horridge (Head Chef at Cliveden) and Daniel Moon (Head Chef of Homewood Park) will judge the final, looking for the best that show overall skill, flair a professional attitude to cooking. 

The winner of the 'Chef of the Year' competition will be offered the position as Commis Chef at von Essen hotels. 

This position, which lasts for a 12-month period, will give the winner the chance to work in four different locations - at two rosette The Elms and Homewood Park, three-rosette Thornbury Castle and Michelin-starred Cliveden. 

The winner will follow a structured learning programme and be taught a number of special skills including pastry, garnish, sauce and fish.

They will also have the opportunity to design a dish that will feature on the restaurant menu for the last week of their time at each hotel. 

As an added bonus, the winner will be sent to France at the end of their placement for a one-week master class at von Essen's Michelin-starred hotel, Chateau de Bagnols, in France. 

The finalists who are awarded second and third place will win a lunch for two, as well as two-week placement at any von Essen hotel.

Words: Clare Riley

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