A SOUTH Wilts Grammar School student has made it through to the final of a prestigious cooking competition. 

Akshatha Srinivasan, 15, has made it to the final of the Junior Chef category of the South West Chef of the Year awards. 

The announcement of the shortlist follows the completion of the first rounds of judging.

And the chefs, who will compete for glory at the finals at Exeter College on Tuesday, October 24, come from pubs, restaurants, hotels and even a school, from all six counties across the region.

The competition was established in 2003 and is the only culinary competition in the UK that recognises professional chefs, student chefs, junior cooks and home cooks.

It is widely regarded as one of the UK’s leading culinary competitions.

For the semi-finals competitors prepared a starter and main course incorporating compulsory protein ingredients which were supplied for the contest by Flying Fish Seafoods and MC Kelly. The judges were chefs Michael Caines, Richard Davies, Neil Haydock, Tim Kendall, Matt Mason, Rob Potter, Scott Paton and Seth Ward.

Neil Haydock, Executive Chef at The Watergate Bay Hotel, Newquay, said: “The semi finals set a high bar for the final on October 24. Congratulations to those going through. For those who didn’t make it this time, know it was one of the most consistent arrays of dishes we have seen in a long time, creating much deliberation amongst the judges.

"The difference between progressing to the final and not was down to the finest of margins.  I’m looking forward to the finals and seeing those who didn’t make it come back next year and smash it!”

Junior Chef finalists (and mentors)

  • Freya – Penrice Academy, St Austell, Cornwall
    Mentor judge: Tim Kendall, The Barley Sheaf, Gorran and The Rising Sun, Altarnun
  • William – Hayle Academy, Hayle, Cornwall
    Mentor judge: Pete Murt, The Seafood Restaurant, Padstow
  • Jessica – Torquay Girls’ Grammar School, Torquay, Devon
    Mentor judge: Mark Dodson, The Masons Arms, Knowstone
  • Elijah – St Peter’s School, Southbourne, Dorset
    Mentor judge: Sam Hughes, Rick Stein, Sandbanks
  • Catherine – Katherine Lady Berkeley’s School, Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire
    Mentor judge: Richard Davies, Calcot Manor, Tetbury
  • Theo – Westfield Academy, Yeovil, Somerset
    Mentor judge: Chris Cleghorn, The Olive Tree, Queensberry Hotel, Bath
  • Akshatha Srinivasan – South Wilts Grammar, Salisbury
    Mentor judge: Hywel Jones, Lucknam Park, Bath

The county finals for the junior chef category, which is open to young cooks aged 11-16, took place in June. The winners in each county will meet at their final, along with the home cook finalists on October 7 at Exeter College, with the winners being announced at the dinner on October 24.

Each young finalist in the junior chef category has benefited from mentoring from one of the county judges during the summer.

Two competitors could not be split at the Cornwall final and so the judges chose to award the title jointly to both.

The results of this year’s competition will be announced at the presentation evening, immediately following the finals, on October 24 at Exeter Golf and Country Club.

For more information, or to book tickets, visit southwestchef.co.uk/awards-evening