Adam Smith wins Bocuse d’Or UK final

Smith was awarded the Bocuse d’Or UK trophy and the Villeroy & Boch winner’s plate. Second place went to chef patron at Loves Restaurant in Birmingham, Steve Love, who won a trip to the Bocuse d’Or Europe in Stockholm.

If current candidate Adam Bennett secures a top 12 position in May, both Smith and Love will work with him as he prepares for Lyon in 2015.

The chefs were given 90 minutes to prepare a meat and fish dish with three different hot garnishes, five portions of each suitable for decorating a Chicken Ballotine.

Chair of the Bocuse d’Or UK team and 2001 candidate John Williams led the panel of judges, which also included former chef and restaurateur Andreas Antona, culinary director of Compass Group and UK candidate 2009 and 2013 Nick Vadis, and chef proprietor of The Elephant restaurant and brasserie Simon Hulstone.

Williams said: “The standard today was excellent and congratulations to everyone who took part. We had some incredible talent competing today and our task of selecting the winner was not easy. 

“So much can happen between now and 2017 which is why we’ve decided to take two chefs on the journey.  We are very excited about the UK’s prospects with both Adam and Steve on board.”