Lee Warren crowned Tilda Chef of the Year 2016

Lee Warren, a sous chef at the Compass Group, has won the Tilda Chef of the Year 2016 contest.

Warren, who also works at Haileybury College in Hertfordshire, won the title at this year's Live Theatre at Hotelympia at ExCeL London on 2 March.

The nine contestants had 60 minutes to prepare, cook and present two servings of a main course dish and a dessert using Tilda rice.

Warren's winning dish comprised a Jamaican pork main course with rice and peas, followed by a dessert of pineapple and coconut crumble with caramelised Tilda Fragrant Jasmine rice ice-cream.

The judging panel included International Salon Culinaire director Steve Munkley as head judge, chef-restaurateur Cyrus Todiwala and Warwick University group executive chef Graham Crump, along with former Tilda Chef of the Year winners Danny Leung and Ian Simpson.

Warren won a trophy, medal, framed certificate and commemorative award plate, as well as a two-day culinary trip to the Po Valley in Italy, home of Tilda's Arborio risotto rice.

Mark Lyddy, head of foodservice at Tilda, thanked all the competitors for their commitment and creativity, and said: "Congratulations to [Warren]. It is extremely impressive to watch a young chef compete and triumph in what was a very strong senior class. [Warren] really impressed the judges with his Jamaican themed menu, and the way in which he used rice to create two exquisite courses."

The 2015 Tilda Young Chef of the Year winner, Krishan Makol from Lexington Catering, was the only other competitor â€" as well as Warren â€' in the senior class to receive a silver level trophy.
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