The Competition Theatre
A Restaurant Show institution, The Competition Theatre will once again be buzzing as it hosts some of the industry’s leading competitions, including the Kikkoman Masters, the Craft Guild’s Prestigious National Chef of the Year as well as Young National Chef of the Year, the Junior, Apprentice and Senior Compass Chef of the Year culinary competition.
Monday 1st October
Kikkoman Masters
The Kikkoman Masters 2018 is now open for entries.
The world’s leading soy sauce manufacturer is once again calling on professional chefs to take part in its highly-regarded competition. Entrants are required to devise two courses using Kikkoman Naturally Brewed Soy Sauce and submit their recipes by Friday, 29th June 2018.
From a short list of entries, ten of the very best chefs will be invited to the Restaurant Show on Monday 1 October to take part in a 90-minute cook-off. One lucky contestant will be crowned Kikkoman Masters Champion 2018 and win a 7-day tour of Japan.
TUESDAY 2nd OCTOBER
Craft Guild of Chefs’
Young National Chef of the Year – In partnership with KNORR
In association with Lockhart Catering Equipment, Churchill, Mash, Norwegian Seafood and Quorn
Timings – Registration from 8.00, access to kitchen from 08.30, competition commences from 9.30 till 11.30 with winner being announced at the 4.45pm Awards Ceremony on The Stage
Young National Chef of the Year is open to chefs aged 18-23 years and sits alongside The National Chef of The Year.
The competition has grown beyond belief, especially since changing the format and opening it up to more young chefs. The format now includes a series of semi-final heats ahead of the live grand final held on the same day and venue as the National Chef of the Year.
Typically four young chefs automatically win a seeded place at the final, made up of winners of young chef competitions from the British Culinary Federation, the Academy of Culinary Arts Awards of Excellence, the Craft Guild of Chefs' Graduate Awards highest achiever and WorldSkills.
The remaining six places are made up of the winners of two semi-finals to which up to 20 young chefs from industry wide competitions including The Craft Guild of Chefs Graduate Awards, Young Welsh Chef of the Year, Young Scottish Chef of the year, Chaine des Rotisseurs Young Chef, Young Game Chef of the Year, Young Grampian Chef of the Year, Young North East Chef of the Year, North West Young Chef of the Year, South West Young Chef of the Year, will be invited to compete.
Advancing through the various stages of the competition requires a well thought out menu – and competitors have to pay particular attention to authenticity, sourcing, seasonality, timing and wastage when creating a menu that offers maximum flavour, texture, balance and style.
The National Chef Of The Year - In Partnership with: KNORR, Lockhart Catering Equipment
Supported by:
Evolve, CCS, Churchill, British Premium Meats, Direct Seafood, Evolve, Electrolux, Mash, Ritter and Sous Vide Tools, UNOX
Hosted at Le Cordon Blue and Sheffield City College and The Restaurant Show
Timings - access to kitchen from 12.30pm, competition commences 1.00pm to 3.00pm with winner being announced at the 4.45pm Awards Ceremony within the Centre Stage.
The most respected and sought after culinary title, The National Chef of the Year is back for 2018, with the search on to find the chef who has the ability and flair to walk away with this prestigious crown. The National Chef of the Year competition, running since 1972, is one of the UK's most respected and sought after culinary titles, awarding the crème de la crème in the chef community. It has helped to launch the careers of some of industry’s most celebrated chefs, many with Michelin stars.
Past winners include Gordon Ramsey, Mark Sargeant, David Everitt-Matthias, Lou Jones, Bruce Sangster, Simon Hulstone and the most recent winner, Alyn Williams of Alyn Williams at the Westbury. Winning this competition is all about the chefs’ individual performances on the day in front of a panel of respected judges. It is not based on their personality or past triumphs but on culinary skills and interpretation of the ingredients they demonstrate when the heat is on!
Past judging panels have included the likes of Phil Howard, Angela Hartnett, Henry Harris, Gary Jones, Tom Kerridge, Ben Tish, Vivek Singh, Bruce Poole, Angela Hartnett, Brett Graham, Sat Bains, Clare Smyth, Simon Hulstone, Monica Galetti amongst others.
WEDNESDAY 4TH OCTOBER
Compass Apprentice, Junior and Senior Chef of the Year
Competition Theatre Sponsors
