Danny Young of Northcote wins North West Young Chef competition

Danny Young, a chef at Nigel Haworth's Northcote in Lancashire has been crowned the winner of Essential Cuisine's 2014 North West Young Chef challenge.

The 20-year-old held off strong competition from five other regional finalists in a two-and-a-half hour cook off held at Manchester College on the 18 June.

The young chef's winning three-course menu comprised: Formby asparagus, poached Bowlands Forest free range egg & hollandaise to start; wheat-fed Goosnargh guinea fowl, leg kiev, scorched baby gem, summer pods and parsley shoots as a main and Hesketh Bank strawberries, Simpsons organic cream and Northcote's garden mint for dessert.

The judging panel, including chairman Brian Mellor, Nigel Crane, managing director of Essential Cuisine and Graham Tinsley MBE, head chef at Carden Park Hotel, were unanimous that Danny's menu was "well researched, and sublimely constructed".

Crane said: "Congratulations to Danny - he really challenged himself to produce three outstanding plates of food, timed to perfection and on-brief. The standard on show from every finalist this year has been fantastic and proof, if proof were needed, that young cooking talent is alive and well in the North West."

Steven Doherty, chef consultant and judge added: "It's inspiring to see such good young talent; it bodes well for the future of the industry."