National Chef of the Year 2011 semi-finals: In pictures

Forty chef semi-finalist chefs were chosen to battle it out across several categories: Asian and oriental, modern British/ Irish and modern European.

Judges at the events whittled the chefs down to just eight finalists: David Bush, senior chef de partie, House of Commons; Frederick Forster, head chef, Nuovo Restaurant; Joe McCafferty, senior chef de partie, ROKA Restaurant; Richard Edwards, head chef, Park Restaurant, Lucknam Park Hotel; Craig Beacham, sous chef, The Elephant Restaurant & Brasserie; Alyn Williams, chef patron at The Westbury; Simon Webb, head chef at Restaurant Associates; and Hayden Groves, executive chef at Lloyds of London, Avenance.

The finalists were required to cook a three course meal consisting of canapés, a main dish and dessert, using Gressingham Duck and bananas as key ingredients.

The photos taken in this gallery are from the three London heats held at Westminster Kingsway College.