Two talented Exeter College students have won coveted awards at the South West Chef of the Year contest.

This October, the college once again played host to the prestigious competition, judged by a prestigious panel of judges.

Students were tasked with cooking a starter and main course in just 90 minutes. This year’s judges were a number of well-known and highly respected chefs including Michael Caines, MBE, one of Britain’s highest profile chefs.

There were 10 students in total from across the county and we are delighted that our very own Harrison Brockington, from Paignton won the Student/Apprentice category and Ethan Macdonald, from Aylesbeare, went on to win the Junior Chef category.

The aim of the competition is to celebrate the exceptional standards within the South West’s hospitality industry with a focus on the amazing array of produce available to us here in the South West.

Harrison received fantastic feedback from the judges with them declaring his food was ‘well balanced, tasty and modern’.

He said: “The competitions really good fun, not just taking part but meeting new people and seeing what everyone else comes up with. This is the first time I have entered and next year I hope to enter the Semi Professionals category.”

Lead Tutor, Ian Biggar added: “Harrison is the most driven student I have ever had the pleasure to teach. His exceptional attendance and work ethic, combined with a natural ability ensures that competitions like this are just the start of an illustrious career.”

Ethan has been working in a professional kitchen since the age of 11 and clearly made an impact at the competition with judges commenting that they wished they had his skills at age 16. Ethan is studying Professional Cookery at the college and is an Apprentice at The Salutation Inn in Topsham.

Lecturer, Stuart Fowles commented: “I first met Ethan before he was a student and his talent was immediately apparent. Watching him in the competition at the weekend made me very proud, he really shines as he has such obvious enjoyment in what he does. I look forward to many more competitions with him.”

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