Mayo chef named as Young National Chef of the Year finalist
Lewis Nicholas, a chef at Ashford Castle in Mayo, has been named as a finalist in the prestigious Young National Chef of the Year competition, organised by the Craft Guild of Chefs.
A Mayo chef is preparing to compete for the title of Young National Chef of the Year.
Lewis Nicholas, who is a chef at Ashford Castle in Mayo, has been named as a finalist in the prestigious competition.
The achievement puts Lewis among an exciting line-up of young chefs who will go head-to-head in October, showcasing the skill, ambition and creativity helping to shape the future of the hospitality industry.
Organised by the Craft Guild of Chefs, Young National Chef of the Year provides emerging talent with the opportunity to test themselves, learn from leading chefs and gain national recognition at an important stage in their career.
To reach the final, Lewis impressed the judges during a demanding selection process. He will now have another opportunity to demonstrate his talent in front of an acclaimed judging panel.
Speaking on this year’s competition, David Mulcahy, competition director, said reaching the final is a huge milestone in any young chef’s career.
“The judges were impressed with the high standard, and it was fantastic to see the chefs respond so positively to the pressure of a live semi-final. Lewis should be incredibly proud of this achievement, and we look forward to seeing what he brings to the final.”
Tom Shepard, chair of judges, has said that the level of cooking across the board will make an exciting final.
“We were looking for chefs with strong technical skills, the ability to create delicious flavours and a real understanding of the brief. Lewis demonstrated that talent, and we’re excited to see them step up again in the final.”
The Young National Chef of the Year final will be held at Le Cordon Bleu London on Tuesday, October 6, where the finalists will compete for the most prestigious title for young chefs in the UK. The winner will be announced later that evening at an awards ceremony attended by leading figures from across the hospitality industry.