Organised every two years by the Welsh Culinary Association, the Junior Chef of Wales showpiece final is held at Coleg Llandrillo, Rhos on Sea. The competition is sponsored jointly by the Welsh Assembly Government to promote the food and drink industry brand 'Wales the True Taste’, Hybu Cig Cymru/ Meat Promotion Wales and Unilever Food Solutions.
Competing for the honour will be Ben Jones, 20, demi chef de partie at St Tudno Hotel, Llandudno, Chris Tull, 21, from the Castle Hotel, Conwy, Toby Hobby, 21, demi chef de partie at the Bear Hotel, Crickhowell and Jonathan Pring, 18, from the Celtic Manor Resort, Newport.
The chefs will be given three hours to cook a creative three course meal for four from a list of Wales the True Taste award winning ingredients.
The final judges are Graham Tinsley, manager of the Welsh National Culinary Team and executive chef at De Vere Carden Park near Chester, Colin Gray, managing director of Capital Cuisine, Cardiff, Nick Parnell of Unilever Food Solutions and John Williams.
Chairman of the judges, Mr Tinsley, is predicting a closely contested final. “It’s going to be a very strong final between four evenly matched chefs and it’s just a pity that we couldn’t have selected six finalists because the standard was so high this year,” he said.
The winner will receive an all expenses paid trip to represent Wales at the Junior Forum at the World Association of Chefs Societies Congress in Stavanger, Norway in 2014. The victor will also receive the Welsh Dragon trophy and be titled the best junior chef in Wales.