Griffiths returns to Welsh team for culinary battle

Griffiths, who works at the The Quay Hotel and Spa, Deganwy, is recalled alongside pastry chef Elin Deering from Coleg Llandrillo Cymru, to compete against New Zealand and Croatia in this year's culinary showdown from February 17-19. The Welsh National Culinary Team is determined to regain the Dragon Trophy after losing it last year to double Culinary Olympic champions Sweden. The team is captained by Wayne Roberts, head chef at Portmeirion Hotel, Portmeirion and also includes David Kelman from Lower Slaughter Manor, Stow-on-the-Wold, Gennaro Adaggio from La Dolce Vita, Shrewsbury and Tom Middleton from Hotel Maes-y-neuadd, Talsarnau, Harlech. The three countries will battle it out in a Restaurant of Nations hot kitchen competition over the three days, each being allocated three hours to produce a three-course meal for 90 people under the supervision of a panel of international judges. Wales opens the competition on Tuesday, February 17 followed on Wednesday by Croatia and New Zealand on Thursday. New Zealand's chefs will be cooking Welsh Lamb as their main course, while Wales will be cooking pork and Croatia Welsh Beef. Following the Battle for the Dragon contest, Wales head to Glasgow to compete at ScotHot from March 2-4. This time the nation will be represented by a under 25 team, which includes Griffiths, Adaggio, Middleton, Chris Owen from the Castle Hotel, Conwy and Adam Nahalewicz from The Quay Hotel, Deganwy. Team manager Graham Tinsley, co-owner of the Castle Hotel, Conwy and Nant Hall, Prestatyn, said: "Our goal is to develop young chefs in Wales because they represent the future. Both teams are very competitive and it would be great if we could win both competitions." The Battle for the Dragon contest is jointly sponsored by the Welsh Assembly Government and Hybu Cig Cymru and the Welsh National Culinary Team is sponsored by the Welsh Assembly Government, C&C Catering Equipment Ltd, Brakes, Unilever Foodsolutions UK, Hybu Cig Cymru/ Meat Promotion Wales, Gourmet Classic Ltd, Villeroy and Boch, Friedr. Dick, Germany, Metcalfe Catering, All Clad and S. A. Brain and Co. Tickets may be booked with Jane Cater, events manager at Coleg Llandrillo Cymru, on Tel: 01492 542 305 (office hours) or e-mail j.cater@llandrillo.ac.uk. Lunch costs £29.50 per person with a reduction to £26.50 when booking for all three lunches.