The Golden Apron Finds Yorkshire’s Best Young Chef

A cookery competition launched by Driffield-based JSR Farms, The Yorkshire Wolds Cookery School and East Yorkshire’s Michelin Star Chef, James Mackenzie, concluded with a grand final at The Pipe and Glass Inn.

The competition, which was launched in December 2012, attracted the imagination of many young chefs from across the region and showcased some of the impressive culinary talent Yorkshire has to offer.

The Golden Apron is the first competition of its kind to be launched in Yorkshire and was designed to help kick-start the careers of young, local cooks. It has been so successful that sponsors, Hull-based Cranswick PLC and national supermarket chain, Sainsbury’s, have already committed to supporting it next year, where it could potentially be rolled out beyond Yorkshire.

The Golden Apron winner, Philippa Lister, 15, from Wakefield, was handed her very own golden apron after wowing diners and judges during the final cook-off. She competed against two other talented finalists, Josh Whitehead, 18, from Leeds and Gemma Lawrence, 15, from Doncaster.

Philippa has won a work placement with both James Mackenzie and Cranswick PLC, working on an account for Sainsbury’s as part of the new product development team. The two other finalists will also benefit from work experience at The Pipe and Glass Inn and Cranswick PLC.

JSR Chairman, Tim Rymer, comments: “The finalists have been on an exciting journey and have continued to impress at every stage of the competition. There are clearly some very talented young chefs within Yorkshire and we feel privileged to have been able to provide them with the opportunity to demonstrate and develop their skills in such an exciting competition.

“All three finalists served guests with courses of an exceptionally high standard using all local ingredients. Gemma prepared a smoked salmon starter that showed her technical ability and attention to detail and Josh’s main course featured pork with some perfect accompaniments.
However, it was the dessert prepared by Philippa that really was outstanding and showed even further what a promising young chef she is.”

James Mackenzie comments: “The response to the competition has been amazing. It has been great to see such talented young cooks from all over Yorkshire come together to showcase their skills and show off the county’s great produce. We hope The Golden Apron has helped to inspire the next generation of chefs, and I’m looking forward to mentoring Philippa, Josh and Gemma.”

Bernard Hoggarth, Director of Cranswick PLC comments: “I felt it a real privilege to be involved in The Golden Apron competition and I was simply blown away by the quality of the young chef’s offerings at the final. The two girls were only 15, which is quite an achievement!
“The life blood of food retailing is innovation. So, I was very impressed by these young chefs who displayed great enthusiasm in producing James’ recipes with their own Yorkshire twists and innovative signatures.

“Philippa’s award will give her exposure to the Sainsbury’s development teams in London and she will work with the Cranswick chefs in our product development team. I really believe she has the talent to make it to the top. The judges were impressed by her calm, unflustered and mature approach in the kitchen and in front of the guests.

“It was a very close-run competition and I’m pleased to say that I believe next year’s Golden Apron will be even bigger. However, I can’t imagine how we will raise the bar on this year’s finalists.”

Philippa explains what it feels like to be crowned Yorkshire’s Best Young Chef: “I have always been passionate about local food and cooking, but I have learnt so much over the last few months. I have realised just how much work goes into designing a dish and then translating that into something that can be served in a restaurant. Cooking in a real kitchen with James Mackenzie was an absolute dream come true.

“I still can’t believe I have won, because Gemma and Josh were both excellent contenders. I am on cloud 9! I have some fantastic opportunities ahead….I’ve already been asked to talk at a cookery course by The Yorkshire Wolds Cookery School, will get experience working on the Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference range with Cranswick PLC and will be able to get more experience at the Pipe and Glass Inn. I would like to thank all the organisers and sponsors for giving me this opportunity.”

The Golden Apron caught the imagination of young chefs from around the region when it opened for entries in December 2012. The competition took place across two heats from March – April 2013 at The Yorkshire Wolds Cookery School and culminated in the grand final at The Pipe and Glass Inn, where the winner was decided with votes from both diners and the judges based upon the dishes served on the night.