Chaine des Rotisseurs announces Young Chef and Young Sommelier winners

Both Bradley and Patana will now go on to represent Great Britain in the Chaine des Rotisseurs’ worldwide International Finals, being held this year during September in Paris (for chefs) and Lyons in November (for sommeliers)

Bradley beat off challenges from Jack Craven of Grantley Hall, who came second, and Leo de Sigley of The Grosvenor in third places. Cooking in the Unilever kitchens in Leatherhead, all the chef finalists were asked to create and execute a three-course meal for four in four hours, from a surprise box of ingredients, with Bradley’s winning menu comprising a starter of cured mackerel, apple and squid; a main of stuffed guinea fowl, peas and crushed new potatoes; and  strawberry and pistachio mille feuille for dessert.

The 22-year old chef began his career with a two-year placement at The Goring Hotel in Belgravia, after which he moved on to The Greenhouse in Mayfair to become commis de cuisine pastry under head chef Alex Dilling.

“Winning was the last thing I was expecting,” he says. “It was such a surprise, as I had never done anything like that before. Now I am looking forward to going to Paris to compete against the rest of the world. Cooking in France is a dream come true.”

As well as being crowned winner in the Sommelier of the Year award Patana was also awarded the Gerard Basset Trophy for the best score in the blind tasting and food and wine matching sections.

The 26 year-old from Milan beat Lorenzo Tonielli of London’s Edition Hotel and Biagio Castaldo of Piazza Italiana in the competition that included a service section with food and wine matching, decanting and champagne service; a scenario involving a guest’s requests, blind wine and spirits tastings, and a written theory paper.

“It takes more than a lifetime to learn about wine, but I am really grateful for the connection that I have already made with it,” he says. “Although the contest was tough, I found the blind tasting section the most fun.”