Craft Guild of Chefs Graduate Awards finalists announced
Ten young chefs and college students, all under the age of 23, have made it through to the final of this year's Craft Guild of Chefs Graduate Awards.
Having successfully competed in the semi-final heats at Sheffield College and the University of West London, they will now be invited to a mentor day in London.
This will include masterclasses with leading chefs in preparation for the final's butchery and fishmongery tests, a mystery basket challenge and the creation of a classic main course and dessert.
The final exam takes place on 27 August at Birmingham University College.
Candidates must score a minimum of 85% to become a graduate and follow in the footsteps of chefs such as Richard Edwards, now head chef at the Michelin-starred Lords of the Manor in Upper Slaughter, Gloucestershire.
Those that make the grade will receive their award at the Lancaster London on 4 September.
Awards co-ordinator Steve Munkley said: "The semi-finals have, once again, shown us the fantastically high calibre of some of the UK's young working chefs today and getting through to this year's final is such a huge achievement in itself.
"They now need to use the mentor day as an additional training ground and perfect their skills as much as they can to impress this year's tough panel of judges. We wish them all the best of luck for the road ahead."
The 10 chefs going through to the Graduate Awards 2015 final are:
• Nicholas Cottrell, head chef, Dolphin House Brazzerie, Plymouth
• Reece Cosier, chef de partie, The Landmark London
• Alex Murtagh, commis chef, The Landmark London
• Olivia Baggley, chef de partie, Wiltons, London
• Grainne Kerr, commis chef, Browns Restaurant, Londonderry
• Drew Snaith, junior sous chef, Brunswick House, London
• Miranda Lucien-Johnson, demi chef de partie, Adam Handling at Caxton
• Josie Thompson, student chef, Westminster Kingsway College
• Aaron Duffy, sous chef, Grants Restaurant, Omagh
• Charlie Aggett, demi chef de partie, Hartwell House Hotel, Aylesbury
