Getting through the paper entry of the awards, designed to really test a chef’s skills and get them noticed in the industry, is no mean feat and semi-finalists will need to give everything they’ve got to impress a judging panel of top chefs at the next stage, a regional cooking test on Friday, June 5th.

Taking place at Sheffield College and University of West London, depending on each chef’s location, the semi-final is the chance to prove they have taken what they learnt in training to the next level.

Those that pass will then be invited to a mentor day, complete with masterclasses with industry greats and gastronomic treats in the capital, to prepare them for the final’s butchery and fishmongery tests, a mystery basket challenge and the creation of a classic main and dessert.

To follow in the footsteps of the likes of Richard Edwards, executive chef at Lords of the Manor - who, this year, earned his first Michelin star - they must score 85% to become a graduate.

Awards co-ordinator Steve Munkley said: “Some of the semi-finalists have already won some fantastic awards this year, but this is the chance to pit their talents and skill against themselves, which involves a whole different mentality. We wish them all the best in making it to the final and achieve something that is a real boost for the CV and very often a turning point in a chef’s career.”

The 20 chefs going through to the Graduate Awards 2015 semi-finals are:
• Laurel Taylor, Royal Garden Hotel
• Nicholas Cottrell, Dolphin House Brazzerie
• Reece Cosier, The Landmark London
• Alex Murtagh, The Landmark London
• Olivia Baggley, Wiltons
• Andrew Potter, The Dairy
• Grainne Kerr, Browns Restaurant
• Liam Argyle, Saunton Sands Hotel
• Drew Snaith, Brunswick House
• Louise Roberts, Lexington Catering
• Miranda Lucien-Johnson, Adam Handling at Caxton
• Josie Thompson, Westminster Kingsway College
• Christopher Davis, Westminster Kingsway College
• Daniel Catalano, The White Horse Pub
• Andrew Hockley, Queenwood Golf Club
• Aaron Duffy, Grants Restaurant
• Charlie Aggett, Hartwell House Hotel
• James Toth, The Cross at Kenilworth
• Chloe Fella, Food Academy
• James Carpenter, Food Academy

With Paul Gayler MBE signed up as chairman of examiners for the third year, the awards give chefs aged 23 and under the chance to test the skills they learnt in college and honed in the workplace.

AAK, CCS, City and Guilds, Essential Cuisine, GRAM, James Knight of Mayfair, Mars Foodservice, Meiko, MKN, Reynolds, Savoy Education Trust, Schwartz, The London Meat Co, Villeroy and Boch, and Warner Leisure Hotels are all sponsoring this year’s awards.

For more information, email [email protected] or call 0208 948 3870. For live updates, follow the Craft Guild of Chefs on Twitter @Craft_Guild #CGCGradAwards.

IMPORTANT DATES
• Regional cooking test – 5th June (Sheffield College and University of West London)
• Mentor day for finalists – w/c 13th July
• Final exam – 27th August (Birmingham University College)
• Cocktail presentation evening – 4th September (The Lancaster London)