Recipe for success sees chef scoop major cookery award

A Bath chef has scooped the top prize in a regional cookery competition.

The Royal Crescent Hotel's Leigh Evans won the under-23 award in the West of England Chef v Chef cook off at the City of Bristol College.

Mr Evans was among a group of contestants challenged to create a mouth-watering main course and delicious dessert for two people from a box of mystery ingredients. The chefs were then given two-and-a-half hours to perfect their culinary creations.

Mr Evans impressed the judges at this week's competition with a main course of roast guinea fowl breast, braised cabbage, confit leg and carrot puree, followed by a dessert of chocolate tubes filled with mousse, vanilla foam and orange syrup.

Celebrity chef Martin Blunos was among the judging panel which also featured Le Manoir Aux Quat' Saisons executive chef Gary Jones and Von Essen Hotels executive head chef James Parkinson.

Mr Jones said: "It was fantastic to see that the competitors had come on board.

"They have all come on a long way since the heats."

Mr Evans has worked at the Royal Crescent for two and a half years and was a runner-up when a Chef v Chef contest was held at the City of Bath College in February.

He was also presented with a cheque for £500 for his award-winning dishes.

The competition will return to the City of Bath College's Shrubbery restaurant in February next year.