Chaine des Rotisseurs Young Commis Chef of 2009 named

Thomas Helyer from Kinnaird Hotel​ and Sporting Estate in Perthshire has been named the Chaine des Rotisseurs UK Young Commis Chef of the Year after a live cook-off at Le Cordon Bleu​ cookery school.

Judged by high-profile chefs Anton Edelmann, Anton Mossimann, Andrew Turner and Anthony Marshall, the competition final saw Helyer battle against four other contestants under the age of 27, to produce a three-course meal for four using a mystery basket of ingredients.

The competitors were tested on the taste, presentation and originality of their dishes, with Helyer’s menu of Breast of Chicken, Marinated Fennel and Asparagus Heads, Rack and Loin of Lamb, Cream Leeks, Caramelised Apple and Garden Vegetables, and Meringue Nest and Sugar Basket Topped with Raspberries and Coulis crowned as a ‘highly commendable achievement’ by the judges.

While Mossimann said that all five contestants had done a ‘very good job’ in the final, Edelmann said the continuing rising standard of the competition would only bode well for the British catering industry.

“I think we have a lot to look forward to in the future,” Edelmann said. “Young chefs are now leaving France behind and looking to the UK for training – it’s an incredibly exciting time for British cuisine.”

Second and third places went to Cameron Bradshaw of Millstream Hotel and Restaurant​ in West Sussex, and Craig McCarron of La Bonne Auberge​ in Glasgow respectively.

Helyer will now go through to represent the UK at the Chaine des Rotisseurs​ International Young Commis Chef 2009 in New York in October.