A teenager from Wiltshire has just won a life-changing opportunity to be mentored by a Michelin Star chef, after being named the county's Junior Chef of the Year.
15-year-old James Rushton is a student at St John's School in Marlborough who took to the hob to fight off five other aspiring chefs for the title of Wiltshire's Junior Chef of the Year 2024.
The hotly-contested final took place at Wiltshire College in Trowbridge, and was judged by Michelin Star chef Hywel Jones, who is an executive chef and director of food at the award-winning Lucknam Park Hotel, as well as Chris Cleghorn, executive chef at The Olive Tree in Bath and Stephen Lloyd, chef lecturer at Wiltshire College.
The Marlborough schoolboy wowed the panel with his home-cured pancetta tortellini with a touch of butternut squash and having won over Wiltshire, James will now go on to compete in the grand final on October 5, against the winners from five other counties.
Not only can James claim he is the best young chef in Wiltshire, but his achievement has won him the chance to be mentored by Michelin Star winner Hywel Jones himself as James prepares for the final.
“Yet again we have seen some fantastic cooking from these young chefs," said competition co-founder, chef Michael Caines MBE DL.
"They have taken regional ingredients and skilfully created some excellent and flavoursome dishes.
"It is a very well-deserved win for James, who demonstrated excellent culinary skills to take this title for a second time.
“Developing new talent remains one of our key drivers with this competition and it’s gratifying to see many of our previous young winners go on to have successful careers in the catering industry.
“We are committed to promoting culinary excellence, nurturing talent, and championing the vibrant food culture of the southwest.”
Other Wiltshire teenagers who competed as finalists alongside James included Benjamin from Appleford School in Salisbury, Lucas from Royal Wootton Bassett Academy, and Eva, Ruby and Scarlett, all from Sheldon School in Chippenham.
The overall winner of South West Junior Chef of the Year will be offered the much sought-after opportunity of work experience with Michelin-starred chef, David Everitt-Matthias, at his highly respected restaurant Le Champignon Sauvage in Cheltenham.
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