Sheffield College student Ben Addey has proven his culinary skills are cutting edge after winning a national industry challenge.
The 19-year-old has fought off tough competition, involving 52 entries from 18 colleges, to win the Student Watercress Challenge 2020.
Organised by Passion To Inspire, the challenge aimed to inspire students and lecturers to have some fun with watercress and develop their culinary knowledge.
Students were asked to create a stunning dish using watercress and post a photo and description of it on social media using @passion2inspire #watercresschallenge @Sey_Chef.
Ben, who is completing the Professional Chef’s Diploma at Level 3, created a dish comprising beetroot cured salmon, horseradish cream, watercress sorbet, tempura, oil and butter with a crab and watercress beignet.
He said: “I was really surprised to walk into my pastry lesson and be told that I had won. It was a great feeling!”
Ben was mentored by Len Unwin, Curriculum Team Leader for Catering and Hospitality, and Chef Lecturer, The Sheffield College.
Len said: “I am really proud of Ben. He looked through old cookbooks and modernised an old Charlie Trotter recipe. I am very impressed with Ben’s technical abilities and the flavours he created with this dish.”
Murray Chapman, Director of Passion To Inspire, who organised the competition, added: “I am absolutely blown away by all the hard work that these young chefs have put into their dishes and the support they have had from brilliant lecturers."
The competition judges were chefs Mick Burke and Seymour Millington, and the winning prize was an engraved Wüsthof knife worth over £120. The competition result was announced last month.
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