Video: British poultry chef of the year revealed

The winners will go on to cook their dishes for guests at the British Poultry Awards later in the year.

Bayan Zuraiki, 17, won the starter course category. She impressed the judging panel with her exotic starter of ‘Shredded Turkey Breast with Spices Served with a Parsley and Bulgar Wheat Tabbouleh’. Kieran Pigott, 17, picked up first prize for main course with his ‘Turkey Breast with Fig and Port served with Arancini, Squash, Basil and a Jus’.

The judging panel said they were blown away by the standard of entries across the board.

Kieran Pigott, 17, picked up first prize for main course .

Runners up included Catherine Worley of North Hertfordshire in the starter course and Chloe Lloyd-Hughes of North Warwickshire and Hinckley College for the main course.

The competition, organised by the British Poultry Council, challenged students from catering colleges all over the country to develop an innovative and delicious starter and main course using turkey. Entries were received from all across the UK with just 12 shortlisted to take part in the cook off, which was held at University College Birmingham.

Sheila Eggleston, of Cost Sector Catering, said: “The entries this year were certainly very innovative and the standard was very high.”

Judging panel

The judging panel for the cook off included Clay Burrows from Aviagen Turkeys, sponsors of the competition, James Dugan, executive chef at The Sheraton Park Lane, Tony Robertson, consultant chef, David Neilson, General Manager at Avara Foods, Paul Kelly, Kelly Turkeys and Sheila Eggleston of Cost Sector Catering magazine.

Prize

In addition to work experience at The Sheraton Park Lane in the run up to the British Poultry Awards, the winners receive £300 of catering vouchers for themselves and £500 vouchers for their colleges.

Sheila Eggleston, of Cost Sector Catering, said: “The entries this year were certainly very innovative and the standard was very high. This competition has been running for 8 years now and each year the dishes get better and better.”

The winner will receive their trophy at the British Poultry Industry Awards, which takes place on 20 September at The Sheraton Park Lane.