Gary Maclean to judge second Scottish Student Chef of the Year competition

Chef Gary Maclean is to once again be the ambassador and judge for the second annual Scottish Student Chef of the Year Competition.

Maclean, winner of MasterChef: the Professionals in 2016 and Scotland’s first National Chef, will be bringing his experience of running Creel Caught at Bonnie & Wild in Edinburgh to the judging panel.

Entries for the contest, organised by Unilever Knorr Professional, opened on 2 December.

The Scottish Student Chef of the Year Competition aims to discover and celebrate the next generation of young culinary talent from Scotland’s catering colleges.

Joining Maclean as judges are Bidfood Scotland’s food development chef Martin Ross and Unilever’s executive chef James Brown.

Maclean said: “This competition goes beyond identifying the best young chef; it’s about fostering creativity, passion and shaping the future of Scottish culinary excellence through the next generation of talent."

This year’s competition theme is the creation of nutrient-dense dishes that promote wellbeing without compromising on flavour. The main course must include Knorr Professional Bouillon as a key ingredient, and a commitment to reducing food waste will be integral.

Shortlisted students will compete in teams, each consisting of a head chef and an assistant, during the live final on 26 March at City of Glasgow College. They will be tasked with delivering a two-course meal and completing a skills test.

Students will be asked to submit their menu idea digitally before a round of shortlisting that will determine the finalists. Prizes will be awarded to first-, second- and third-place students, with the overall winner, their lecturer and assistant receiving an all-expenses-paid educational trip to Italy.