Cranswick were pleased to attend the crowning of Yorkshire’s Best Young Chef at The Golden Apron 2017 competition as one of the main event sponsors. Celebrating its fourth year, the awards are run by James Mackenzie, the chef and owner of the Michelin-starred Pipe and Glass, the Yorkshire Wolds Cookery School and farming company JSR.
It was 17 year-old Zacharias Abbott who took the title of the Golden Apron in a close final at the Pipe and Glass Inn at South Dalton. It was well-deserved success for Abbott, who is from Stamford Bridge near York, after he entered the competition twice previously, reaching the semi-finals the first time and finals the second time.
The competition, open to budding young chefs aged 14-19 across the county, provides winners the exclusive opportunity to design a range of products which will appear on the shelves of ASDA in time for Christmas.
Zacharias, a Level 2 Professional Cookery student at York College, beat off tough competition from, 16 year-old Joseph Lees from Whitby, who is studying for his GCSE’s at Caedmon College, including Catering, and 17 year-old Adam Rothery from Anlaby, a Level 2 Culinary Skills student at Hull College.
The group of gifted teenagers were set the task of cooking their own dish representative of ‘My Yorkshire’ and a pudding recipe supplied by James at the semi-finals, held at the Yorkshire Wolds Cookery last month. Last night, each of the budding chefs presented their ‘My Yorkshire’ dishes to 70 guests, who then voted ‘blind’ on the three dishes.
Above: Abbott’s winning venison dish
James Mackenzie said: “This year’s result was the closest it’s ever been – the standard was just brilliant. It’s all about their ideas, their recipes, and it goes on the plate exactly the way they want it – there’s no doubt that these three have a very, very bright future.”
As part of his prize, Zacharias will also receive a work placement with Cranswick. He will work with New Product Development Manager, Howard Cheshire and his team to learn about the role of a development chef and see ideas through to the table.
“It is brilliant to see such enthusiasm and energy amongst young chefs. The food manufacturing industry is the largest private sector employer in the UK and offers so many exciting opportunities; we need young, talented chefs to drive the industry forwards into the future”.
For further information on the Golden Apron 2017: www.thegoldenapron.co.uk