Matthew Cheal, a chef at the one-Michelin-starred Simpsons restaurant in Edgbaston, won the British Culinary Federation Chef of the Year 2010 competition at Le Salon Culinaire International de Londres at Hotelympia earlier this week.
Beating off stiff competition from chefs including runner-up Kevin Sutherland of BaxterStorey Executive Services, London, and third place Stephanie Moon of Leeds City College and judged by a stellar line-up of chefs including Pierre Koffmann, Glynn Purnell, Kevin Viner and Idris Caldora, Cheal managed to secure first place with a three-course meal for two covers.
His meal comprised seared, hand-dived Ross-shire scallops, caviar d’Aquitaine, tenderstem broccoli, orzo pasta, seaweed butter sauce, a main course of rolled saddle of Cornish lamb, sweetbreads, charlotte potatoes, baby spinach, silverskin onions, trompette mushrooms and tarragon and caramelised pear, salted almonds, vanilla ice-cream and caramel sauce
Cheal received £2,500, courtesy of sponsor Aubrey Allen, as well as a gold medal.
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By Amanda Afiya