Danny Burke, 39, co-owner of Olive Tree Catering, Hawarden, is one of seven finalists in the National Chef of Wales final, which will be split into two heats on February 23, the last day of the Welsh International Culinary Championships at Coleg Llandrillo, Rhos-on-Sea.
 
Burke has recently returned from the Culinary Olympics in Germany where he captained Culinary Team Wales to three bronze medals.

He said: "As captain of the senior Culinary Team Wales, I realise I am there to be shot at. All the finalists will have a fair chance and the winner will be the one that puts the most time and effort into his dishes. 

"I intend to put my heart and soul into preparing for the next three months to give myself the best possible chance. If I don’t win, I will know that I was not good enough and it won’t be due to a lack of preparation.”

To add extra spice to the final, he will be up against Wales teammates Simon Crockford from the Celtic Manor Resort, Newport and Jason Hughes from Chateau Rhianfa, Menai Bridge.

The four other finalists are Matthew Smith from Nag’s Head, Garthmyl, near Montgomery, Thomas Westerland from Lucknam Park Hotel and Spa, near Bath who was beaten finalist this year, Matthew Ramsdale from Sebastians, Oswestry and Anthony Bush from Heronston Hotel, Bridgend.

The Junior Chef of Wales final, to be held on the first day of the Welsh International Culinary Championships on February 20, will be contested by four chefs. The finalists include Harry Paynter-Roberts from the Castle Hotel, Conwy and Steffan Davies from Gidleigh Park, Exeter, who were members of the junior Culinary Team Wales which excelled in winning two silver medals at the Culinary Olympics.

They will be competing against this year’s Junior Chef of Wales runner-up James Corbett from the Elephant and Castle Hotel, Newtown and Harry Osborne from Signatures, Llandudno.

CAW president Arwyn Watkins praised the quality of entries for both competitions. “We have decided to make Thursday the National Chef of Wales day at the Welsh International Culinary Championships,” he said.

“Due to the calibre of entries, we felt it would be an injustice not to have all seven chefs competing in the final, so we decided to split the final into two heats. It’s also great to see three members of the senior Culinary Team Wales and two members of the junior team stepping up as individuals to compete in the finals, which will showcase the culinary talent that the nation has.”