Success for Great Britain in Chaîne des Rôtisseurs international finals

Jordon Powell and Matteo Montone have returned to Great Britain with a medal haul after competing in the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs international finals for young chefs and sommeliers.

Montone, wine director at the London Edition and the 2019 Chaîne GB Young Sommelier, took to the top honour after two days of competition in South Korea winning gold and the world champion title after pushing Jonathan Eichholz from the US and Australia’s Andres Aragon into second and third places respectively.

He said: “This is probably the greatest achievement of my life. I've worked very hard to prepare for this, and to win was a dream come true!”

Powell, chef de partie at South Lodge hotel near Horsham, West Sussex, travelled to Calgary in Canada and competed against finalists from 22 other countries, cooking a three-course meal from a basket of mystery ingredients and securing second place – the highest position achieved by a British chef in this competition for 40 years.

He said: “I was over the moon to be awarded the silver medal for Great Britain, and for my cooking to be judged to that high a standard! With just three medals on offer, it meant that 20 countries went away empty-handed...I’m glad that we weren’t among them.”

It was the third year in the row that Great Britain had returned triumphant in the sommelier award. Philip Evins, Bailli Délégué for the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs GB, said: “With Matteo’s superb effort, we have kept up our outstanding track record in the event.

“My sincere thanks to those who encouraged him in our national competition – judges Steven Spurrier, Christelle Guibert, Dimitri Mesnard, Isa Bal and Nicholas Clerc – and our partners with whose help we are able to run this event.

“We were delighted with Jordon’s brilliant cook-off too. Congratulations to him as he furthers his career, and to the team who helped in his preparation for the contest – Vic Laws, Ben Purton and Daniel Ayton – as well as those who hosted stages, Mosimanns and the Royal Lancaster London hotel.

“It goes to show that Britain really does produce young hospitality talent that is the best in the world.”