Cornwell, who is chef de partie at Michelin-starred Lucknam Park near Bath, presented roast loin of venison, squash purée, Savoy greens, red wine shallots and cherries, and also recreated his pan-fried hake, scallop and fennel mousse, mussels and mussel nage dish.

He was joined by Steve Ashworth, winner of the South West’s Best Dish class for home cooks, who presented the demo and provided details about the 2014 competition.

The competition, staged by renowned chef Michael Caines and Taste of the West, is open to professional and amateur chefs, offering two classes for professional chefs (senior and junior), one class for junior chefs (under 16 years of age) and another class for home cooks, for which keen amateur chefs are asked to enter a favourite main course dish.

The judges, consisting of some of the South West’s finest chefs, will be searching for talented and creative chefs and home cooks. They include: Michael Caines, ABode Hotels and Gidleigh Park; Paul Ainsworth, Number 6 and Rojano’s in the Square, Padstow; Peter Gorton, Gorton’s, Tavistock; Neil Haydock,  Watergate Bay Hotel, Newquay; Mark Hix, Hix Restaurants, Lyme Regis and London; Darrin Hosegrove, Ashburton Cookery School; Simon Hulstone, The Elephant Restaurant, Torquay; Hywel Jones, Lucknam Park, Bath; Matt Mason, The Jack in the Green, Rockbeare; Nathan Outlaw, Restaurant Nathan Outlaw and Seafood & Grill; Rob Rees, The Cotswold Chef; and Chris and James Tanner, Tanners Restaurant and Barbican Brasserie.

The junior and South West’s Best Dish finals will be held on October 4 at Ashburton Cookery School and the professional finals on October 27 at Exeter College. The winners will be announced at an awards dinner on October 27 at Exeter Golf & Country Club.

Further information, visit www.southwestchef.co.uk