Roux Scholarship regional finalists announced

Chefs from the kitchens of previous Roux Scholarship winners are among 20 competitors tilting for the prestigious title in 2007. They include Ryan Simpson from 2003 winner Simon Hulstone's Elephant Restaurant & Bar in Torquay and Armand Sablon from 2002 winner Andre Garrett's Galvin at Windows in London.

The chefs will compete in two regional heats which will take place on 8 March at Birmingham College of Food, Tourism and Creative Studies and Thames Valley University in West London. The six highest-marked competitors from these will procede to a grand final in April.

In order to get through to the regional heats, the young chefs had to submit a recipe using veal kidneys for paper judging by a panel chaired by competition founder Michel Roux.

The 20 finalists are: Christopher Golding, Nobu Berkeley, London; Matthew Wilkinson,Rudding Park, Harrogate; Ryan Simpson, the Elephant Restaurant and Bar, Torquay; Vincent Fayat, Ockenden Manor, Cuckfield; Andrew Wilson, the Capital Hotel, London; Stephen Stevens, Ynyshir Hall, Wales; Armand Sablon, Galvin at Windows, London; Hrishikesh Desai, Lucknam Park, Colerne; Jonathan Coates, formerly of La Noisette, London; Andrew Birch,Tanners Restaurant, Plymouth; William Frankgate, Whitbread Court, Dunstable; James Barber, the New Angel, Dartmouth; Tristin Farmer, Enverdale House Hotel, Coupar Angus; Henry Vigar, La Noisette, London; Alastair Dale, Ince & Co, London; Daniel Cox, Compass UK; Alan Irwin, Chapter Two, London; Matthew Woolf, the Ritz Hotel, London; Graham Kirk, Est, Est, Est, Edinburgh; Lisa Allen, Northcote Manor, Langho.

For further information go to www.rouxscholarship.co.uk

Roux Scholar to split winner's stage between two of Europe's top restaurants >>

By Joanna Wood

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