Eleven judges for the competition, now in its 44th year, took 220 hours between them to pick their 40 semi finalists from 159 paper entries.
David Mulcahy, vice president of the Craft Guild of Chefs and organiser of the NCOTY competition, said: "Following the paper entry stage all judges agreed that the standard this year has improved on recent years, and I have no doubt that we are in for a tough competition.
"The focus on a very clear set of skills at the semi-final stage will determine who deserves to go through to the final stages where they will be able to show their own personal innovation and skills with what will be the best mystery basket yet. The National Chef of the Year continues to grow and develop and to reflect today’s fast paced and exciting industry.”
Semi-finalists will compete in heats at Sheffield College and Le Cordon Bleu in London next month where they will be judged on their cooking skills before 10 are chosen to go through to the final at The Restaurant Show on Tuesday 4 October.
Clare Smyth, chairman of the judges said: "Having discussed the entries and menus at length with my fellow judges I know it is going to be a very tough, close and exciting semi-final. On a personal note, I’m delighted to see five female chefs make the top 40 which is the highest we’ve ever had and is something as a committee we’ve really encouraged for the last few years. I hope the chefs will grab this opportunity with both hands and ensure they are ready for it."
NCOTY 2017 semi-finalists:
- Adam Thomason, Restaurant Associates
- Andy Wright, Restaurant 23
- Robert Cox, Tudor Farmhouse HOtel
- Liam McKenna, Trump International
- James Devine, Deanes Eipic
- Daniel Parker, House of Tides
- Jack Bradley, Hipping Hall
- Dion Wyn Jones, Lion and Pheasant Townhouse Hotel
- Rohan Wadke, Forth Valley College
- Paul Foster, Salt
- Matthew John, The Waggon Inn
- Jake Jones, The Grand Hotel and Spa
- Martin Carabott, The Royal Automobile Club
- Thomas Westerland, Lucknam Park Hotel and Spa
- Ollie Hay, Restaurant Associates
- Diane Camp, Reynolds
- Gavin Edney, Cliveden House
- Nicholas Smith, Vacherin
- Stephanie Coupland, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay
- Andrew McKee, Lough Erne Resort
- Kamil Wierzbowski, Petrus Restaurant, Gordon Ramsay
- Robert Taylor, Compasses Inn
- Jahdre Hayward, Haywards Restaurant
- Sally Abe, Great British Chefs
- Adam Handling, Adam Handling Restaurant Group
- John Price, Nomura - Restaurant Associates
- Simon McKenzie, The Old Government House Hotel and Spa
- Cormac McCreary, The Ritz
- Aidan McGee, The Truscott Arms
- James Buckley, Levy Restaurants @Excel London
- Sarah-Jasmina Moussabih, 10 Feet Tall
- Luciano Lucioli, Lusso - CH&Co
- Ben Murphy, The Woodford
- Simon Webb, Restaurant Associates
- Gregorz Olejarka, Grainstore Cafe & Bar
- Philip Harrison, Anglesea Arms
- Jenny Warner, The Thomas Cubitt
- Neil Yule, Sodexo
- Andrew Birch, Fishmore Hall Hotel
- Bobby Retnakumar Geetha, Hilton Hotels UK