Daniela Tucci from The Art School in Liverpool is the first ever female winner of the competition and her menu consisted of Claremont Farm asparagus, poached egg and classic Hollandaise sauce starter; Callum’s Blackface Suffolk Lamb with spring cabbage parcel, caramelised onion puree, Heritage carrots, peas & beets main; and a dessert of Wild strawberry basket with Basil, “Two Cathedrals Honey” and Balsamic.
Tucci said: "I feel so happy! I came today with the attitude as long as I do my best I really didn’t mind the outcome, but to win is amazing. It was probably the most stressed I have ever been in my life, but it is all worth it now.”
Chairman of judges, award winning Master Chef of Great Britain, Brian Mellor said: “Daniela demonstrated great calm and at a time of great pressure, she was cooking with a smile on her face. Her dessert is really what put her ahead of the rest – it was exceptional.”
Alongside the kudos of being crowned the North West Young Chef of for 2016, Daniela receives £500 and an automatic qualification into the semi-finals of the Craft Guild of Chefs’ Young National Chef of the Year competition, where she will square off against the best young chefs from the rest of the country.
Essential Cuisine’s North West Young Chef Competition invites young chefs under the age of 23 from Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside, Cheshire, Cumbria and Shropshire to compete against each other in a two and a half hour cook off to produce a three course meal for two people featuring local and seasonal produce.
The finalists in full:
Winner: Merseyside Winner – Daniela Tucci, aged 19, from The Art School Restaurant
Runner-up: Greater Manchester Winner – Steven Halligan, aged 22, from Mr Cooper’s House & Garden at the Midland Hotel
Lancashire Heat Winner - Liam Anderson, aged 19, from Freemasons at Wiswell
Cheshire Heat Winner – Krzysztof Borowiak, aged 22, from YU Alderley Edge
Shropshire Heat Winner – Michael Burgess, aged 17, from Albright Hussey Manor Hotel
Cumbria Heat Winner – Ryan Lee, aged 20, from Rothay Manor