A record number of entrants achieved graduate status in this year’s Craft Guild of Chefs Graduate Awards.

Five successful candidates were presented with their awards by the organisation’s patron, the Countess of Wessex, at a lunch at the Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington last week.

Sophie Wright from Westminster Kingsway College emerged as Graduate Top Achiever, having scored the highest mark overall (89%) for her duo of rabbit.

Her fellow graduates who also exceeded the 85% pass mark required were Anton Scoones, Oulton Hall; Shaun Dickens, Le Manior aux Quat’Saisons; Andrew Hall, Executive Fine Dining, Canary Wharf; and William Horswill, Westminster Kingsway College.

The year’s skills test were preparing a rabbit for sauté and filleting a large lemon sole. In addition, the candidates were required to prepare four covers of a classic Sole Bonne Femme.

By Diane Lane

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