Both of the chefs are in the running for an award
Throughout the county there are chefs serving up the finest dishes, delivering memorable dining experiences and drawing in regular customers to the restaurants they work in. Everyone has their go-to restaurants and dishes, but the National Chef of the Year awards is setting out to crown the best.
Ten chefs remain in the running for one of the most prestigious titles in UK hospitality. This year, there are two Cambridge chefs shortlisted for the award.
Byron Franklin, executive chef at Ancient Shepherds by Mark Poynton and Vladimir Hromek, development chef at Cambridge Dining Co. have earned a place in the final of National Chef of the Year. Following a highly competitive semi-final stage, both Byron and Vladimir have successfully secured a place in the grand final, where the country’s leading culinary talent will compete for the opportunity to join an elite group of past winners and have their name written into the history of the competition.
The award is organised by the Craft Guild of Chefs and judged by some of the industry’s most respected chefs. This year’s finalists were selected following a rigorous judging process that tested creativity, technical skill, flavour, presentation and the ability to perform under pressure.
David Mulcahy, competition director of National Chef of the Year, said: “Reaching the National Chef of the Year final is an outstanding achievement. Every chef who has made it this far has demonstrated exceptional skill, commitment and professionalism throughout the competition.
“Year after year, the standard continues to impress the judges, and we look forward to seeing how both of these talented chefs rise to the challenge on the day.”
Ancient Shepherds, on Fen Ditton High Street, offers three carefully crafted tasting menus of three, five or seven courses. With an average of 4.5 stars out of five on Google among more than 400 reviews, it is clear that it is a highly raved place.
Cambridge Dining Co., which offers a catering service, takes “exceptional, restaurant-quality dishes and brings them to the event table”. It has an almost perfect Google review rating of 4.9 stars out of five among 90 reviews. One customer said they were “blown away by how delicious the food tasted”.
One diner, who tried the summer themed five course tasting menu said they found the food to be “highly inventive, flawlessly executed and beautifully presented”.
Chair of judges and chef patron of Moor Hall, Mark Birchall added: “I’ve been incredibly impressed by the commitment and effort that’s gone into the competition so far. I know how much pressure chefs put themselves under, but also how much they grow and learn from the experience. My advice to Byron and Vladimir is to keep it simple and focus on creating delicious, brilliantly executed dishes rather than trying to overcomplicate things.”
The final of National Chef of the Year will take place at Le Cordon Bleu London on Tuesday, October 6, where the ten finalists will cook against the clock in front of a panel of judges. The winner will be announced later that evening at a distinguished awards ceremony.
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