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Essential Cuisine were once again proud sponsors of The British Culinary Championships, one of the UK’s largest live culinary competitions, which took place at Central Bedfordshire College on Tuesday 30th May - Wednesday 31st May 2023.

For the first time, the competition and classes were open to both junior and senior competitors. Located in the heart of Bedfordshire, The Salon, managed by Central Bedfordshire College in association with The Craft Guild of Chefs is fast becoming one of the top salons in the country. This evolving event is growing into a fantastic platform for all chefs, but especially student and young chefs to get a first taste of competition experience.

The competition, held over the two days is split into categories: Live hot, Live cold, Restaurant, Display, Bakery and Food Photography.

Carrying on our long association with The Craft Guild of Chefs and supporting the industry, Essential Cuisine were pleased to sponsor the 'Student Chef Champion' - a live theatre class which saw young aspiring catering college students create 2 portions of a vegetarian amuse bouch and 2 portions of a chicken main course suitable for a fine dining restaurant. The winning student, Georgia Hackett, from Liverpool City College wowed the judges with her amuse bouch of Mushroom Arranci with Chiron Sauce and for her main course, Chicken Bon Femme.

Georgia who is level 3 and in her final year at City College Liverpool also picked up 2 golds for the 'pasta' and 'lamb' classes and silver in the 'pork main course' as well as a bronze in the 'oriental bowl food' and the 'burger challenge'.

Georgia commented “I really enjoyed the salon experience, I didn’t expect to do as well as I did but the hours of practice paid off and I would like to thank my chef mentor, Ian Jaundoo from City Liverpool College for all of his help and support”. 

Judge and Essential Cuisine Business Development Manager, Gary Kilminster commented, "Georgia created 2 excellent courses, with all of the judges impressed by the way she worked within the kitchen, her presentation and flavours of her dishes. On behalf of everyone at Essential Cuisine, a huge congratulations on your success!"

As well as sponsoring and judging the Salon, Gary Kilminster even found time to enter two classes himself. No stranger to the competition circuit from his days in the kitchen, Gary competed in the 'lamb main course' class, winning a silver medal and in the 'pork fillet' class, in which he had 25 minutes to prepare a pork fillet dish suitable for a gastro pub menu. Gary was delighted to be awarded a gold medal and 'best in class for his dish of 'Fillet of Dorset Pork & Sage Mousseline, Pancetta, Cumin Glazed Carrots, Nut Brown Broccoli Puree, Wild Mushroom Risotto, Cider & Mustard Sauce'. 

We caught up with Gary after his well-earned holiday to get his thoughts. Gary commented, “It's very important that chefs across the industry, of all levels support Salon Culinaire competitors like this. These are great platforms for all chefs no matter of age or experience to test themselves, to learn from experienced chefs via feedback and to have fun cooking outside of their own kitchen and comfort zones. Stephen Scuffell from the Craft Guild of Chefs and his team put on a great Salon Culinaire year after year and both Essential Cuisine and myself personally really enjoy supporting the competition, the Craft Guild and competitors. It was also a great feeling to compete again in a salon event, and shows this old man has still got what it takes to reach the standard of winning a gold Medal!”

To find out more about the event, click here.