The results were celebrated at an awards evening at the iconic Hippodrome Casino in Leicester Square. National Chef of the Year is a prestigious title that every competitive chef wants to win as it showcases the highest levels of dedication, ambition and culinary excellence.
In this hotly contested final, Katie Morgan from Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons was named runner-up, while Ruth Hansom-Rigby of Hansom Restaurant secured third place.
Hosted at the University of West London, the competition saw ten of the country’s most talented chefs go head-to-head in a high-pressured kitchen cook-off. Each finalist was tasked with creating a three-course menu that demonstrated technical skill, creativity, and a deep understanding of flavour all under the scrutiny of a judging panel packed with culinary royalty.
Among those judging were Matt Abé, Mark Birchall, Lisa Goodwin-Allen, Gary Jones, Hrishikesh Desai, Paul Foster, Jean Delport, Atul Kochhar, James Golding, Phil Howard, Mark Perkins, James ‘Jocky’ Petrie, Nicolas Houchet and Sarah Mountain. Each judge brought their own unique perspective and expertise to the table.
The winning menu from Danny included a starter of Native Lobster, Yuzu Beurre Blanc, N25 Caviar, a main course of Dry Aged Beef Fillet, Glazed Tongue, Beef Fat Onion, Potato, Truffle with a Valrhona Fruit & Nut ‘Tart’, Mascarpone, Pedro Ximénez for dessert.
Speaking after the final chair of judges Matt Abé, who is chef patron at Bonheur by Matt Abé, said: “The standard this year was phenomenal. Danny delivered a menu that was not only brilliantly executed but it absolutely nailed the brief I set, and he worked with such an incredible level of professionalism from start to finish.
“It’s been an honour to chair this competition for the last two years. The high number and standard of entries, dedication and level of cooking I’ve witnessed has been a joy to see and I look forward to following these finalists’ culinary careers. This is just the beginning of an exciting journey ahead.”
Back for a second year, was the Wine Pairing Challenge, organised in partnership with Hallgarten & Novum Wines. Finalists selected a wine to complement their Angus Pure main course, with Katie Morgan from Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons taking the win. She paired Domaine Georges Vernay, ‘Maison Rouge’ Côte-Rotie 2021 with her Australian Beef ‘Rossini’, Braised Massaman Cheek, Shiitake and Pommes Soufflé.
The judges highlighted that Katie’s in-depth explanation of the wine and its characteristics were ‘extremely well thought out and astute’. Katie’s consideration of sustainability in her response helped set her entry apart and earn her this award.
David Mulcahy, competition director, added: “This competition continues to be a launchpad for culinary talent. The energy, passion and precision we saw today was inspiring for everyone involved. Congratulations to Danny for taking the title which he can now add to his Young National Chef of the Year win. This is a chef who truly embodies the spirit of National Chef of the Year, and I know he is going to be an important ambassador for the industry over the next year and beyond.”
Beyond the prestigious title, the winner also receives a host of exclusive prizes worth over £15,000, generously provided by the event’s sponsors including a commemorative framed plate from Churchill which will take pride of place in the winner’s home or restaurant.