Two winners crowned in Bookatable's Young Chef of the Year competition

By Andrew Don

- Last updated on GMT

Chefs Jack Barwick and Petty Torrance with Mike Reid
Chefs Jack Barwick and Petty Torrance with Mike Reid

Related tags Culinary art

Chefs from London restaurants Smiths of Smithfield and Paradise Garage have triumphed in Bookatable by Michelin’s inaugural UK Young Chef of the Year 2017.

Petty Torrance, 20, from Smiths of Smithfield, and Jack Barwick, 23, from Paradise Garage, were named joint winners in the competition, launched in association with Champagne Pommery.

The pair, who both scored 674 points out of a maximum 750, saw off strong challenges from 10 other finalists who came from Michelin-starred restaurants across the UK.

The finalists were selected from 50 up-and-coming UK-based chefs, who showcased their menus and culinary skills to a panel of six judges and also to paying diners.

The competition, created by Michael Reid, executive chef at M Restaurants and one of the panel members, aims to nurture the next generation of chefs under the age of 29 and encourage young talent working in the UK restaurant industry.

Entrants submitted menus that reflected their skill, personality and personal style of cooking, giving them the opportunity to host their own pop-up restaurant.

The winners will take over the M RAW 50-cover restaurant at M Victoria St for five nights each, cooking their own four-course menus.

“We have incredible talent in the UK’s kitchens and we were able to offer a fantastic experience to both encourage and nurture young chefs,” says Reid. “I can’t wait for Perry and Jack to now rock it in the two-week take over.”

Follow us

Hospitality Guides

View more

Generation Next