Daniel Marshall and Arnaud Bardary take top prizes in Chaîne des Rôtisseurs’ Young Professionals of the Year awards

Daniel Marshall of the Imperial hotel, Great Yarmouth, and Arnaud Bardary of Gordon Ramsay's Maze in London have been named the winners in this year's Chaîne des Rôtisseurs' Young Professionals of the Year awards.

At an awards ceremony held at the Dorchester hotel last night (20 June) Marshall picked up the Young Chef of the Year award, with Bardary winning Young Sommelier of the Year.

Now in its 35th year, the competition is open to all chefs under the age of 27 who are currently working in Chaîne des Rôtisseurs affiliated establishments across Great Britain.

Ten finalists compete in each category. For Marshall this involved creating a three-course menu for four people out of a mystery box of ingredients in three hours. Each menu was judged on presentation, originality and taste.

Marshall's wining menu comprised a starter of pan-fried bream, glazed samphire and tomato, red onion and chilli salsa; followed by a main course of loin of lamb, red wine reduction, fondant potatoes, glazed asparagus and roasted beetroot and black pudding; and a dessert of orange and thyme panna cotta, pistachio brittle, orange caramel cream and honey ice-cream.

Lee Warren from Chartwells (Haileybury College) came second and Neil Bell from Turnberry in Scotland was third.

Chairman of judges Daniel Galmiche, executive chef at the Vineyard at Stockcross, praised the "quality and creativity" of the contestants and emphasised how important it was to give young talent a competitive forum, from which they could grow and develop.

Meanwhile, Bardary beat Loic Avril of the Fat Duck, Bray, and Roumain Bourger of the Vineyard at Stockcross to take the Young Sommelier title. Each finalist was judged on their theory, service and accuracy of blind tasting, with Bardary impressing judges with his all-round knowledge and ability.

Phillip Evins, Bailli Délégué at Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, said: "I would especially like to congratulate Bardary and Marshall, who were up against some very fierce and talented competitors. It is always daunting to have to perform in a competitive environment but they both held their own and thoroughly deserve their winning positions."

Chaîne des Rôtisseurs names UK finalists for Young Chef and Young Sommelier of the Year 2012 >>

Jan Konetzki of Restaurant Gordon Ramsay named 2012 Sommelier of the Year >>

By Kerstin Kühn

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