Grand Finalists Announced for the Country Range Student Chef Challenge 2022

After one of the most competitive paper judging stages in the competition’s history, eight college teams have been successful in making the grand final of the returning Country Range Student Chef Challenge 2022.   

The eight teams who have made it through to the grand final to be held at the Hotel, Restaurant & Catering Show at Excel in London on the 22nd March 2022 include: 

Cambridge Regional College 

Coleg Llandrillo 

City of Glasgow 

New City College 

Loughborough College 

Moray College 

Hertford Regional College 

West Suffolk College 

Due to the ongoing uncertainty with COVID 19, the organisers had to take the decision to cancel the practical heats, which were set to follow the paper judging and take place at the end of January and early Feb. 

While far from perfect and a huge shame for the students who were looking forward to the practical challenge, instead teams were judged by Craft Guild of Chefs Chairman of Judges Chris Basten and chef Daniel Ayton, solely on the written applications.  

The teams, each made up of three talented young chefs from colleges around the UK & Northern Ireland, had to devise a delicious three-course menu consisting of smoked fish canapes, a guineafowl main course and a tart with a crumble topping for dessert.   

The applications had to include the full menus with recipes and costings, methodology showing menu development and images of the dishes they devised.  

The victorious eight will now face off in the nerve-racking live final, where they will have to recreate their menus and present them to an impeccable standard within 90 minutes in front of a live audience.    

Craft Guild of Chefs Chairman of Judges Chris Basten said: 

“The cancellation of last year’s competition has obviously focused the minds of students as the number and quality of applications has never been so high.  It’s therefore an even bigger shame that we have had to cancel the regional practical heats and solely judge teams on their paper applications.  The challenge is as much about final flavours, teamwork and performance in the kitchen on the day so I’m sorry to all the colleges who haven’t made it through this time and had a chance to cook.  To the eight finalists – congratulations, you menus impressed us greatly and we look forward to tasting the dishes in March.” 

Country Range Group Marketing Manager Kate Bancroft said:  

“Congratulations to all the teams who have made it through to the final and commiserations to those who just missed out. It was incredibly difficult decision for our judges without the practical heats, as the quality of menus submitted was phenomenal.   The eight winning menus all sound incredible so it’s shaping up to be an exciting final and cook-off.”   

Country Range Student Chef Challenge 

The Country Range Student Chef Challenge is a prestigious culinary competition which has become a firm fixture in the catering industry’s calendar. 

Run in partnership with the Craft Guild of Chefs, who provide competition-standard judging and detailed feedback to the students, it has played a huge role in developing young chefs and talent around the UK.   

In addition to the glory of winning, the successful team in 2022 will also receive the following prizes: 

• An overnight stay and meal at a Michelin star restaurant 
• A stage working and learning what Michelin-level cooking is all about.  
• A free media publicity campaign around the winners, their dishes and the college.  
• The winning lecturer and the two runner-up teams will receive special Flint & Flame knives.   

For more information visit, www.countryrangestudentchef.co.uk.  

About the Country Range Group 

With over 30 years of heritage servicing the UK & Ireland’s innovative foodservice sector, the Country Range Group is made up of 12 independent wholesalers – Birchall Foodservice, Blakemore Foodservice, Caterite Foodservice, Creed Foodservice, Dunns Food and Drinks, EFG Foodservice, Harvest Fine Foods, Henderson Foodservice, Savona Foodservice, Thomas Ridley Foodservice, Trevors Foodservice and Turner Price.  

In addition to offering the leading brands from around the globe, the Group also provides over 800 products, all developed exclusively for professional caterers under the Country Range brand. Covering grocery, chilled, frozen and non-food, Country Range is widely recognised by caterers as a trusted and reliable brand delivering consistent quality and value for money without compromising on taste and flavour. 

The Group also publishes its trade magazine Stir it up 10 times a year, which features the latest food, drink and industry news, Country Range brand promotions and in-depth trend reports and sector specific guides to support and inspire all foodservice caterers. 

Website: www.countryrange.co.uk 

Facebook/Twitter/Instagram: @countryrangeuk