Bradley's cooking up a storm

02/12/2009

Bradley Jordan at the cook-off

A trainee chef is hoping his talent in the kitchen will earn him the title of Sussex Young Chef of the Year.

While working at the Cowdray Pub in Balcombe Bradley Jordan, 22, was nominated for the title of Sussex Young Chef of the Year by his Training Co-ordinator at Central Sussex College Ann Stockdale. The hotly-contested cook-off took place at City College Brighton and Hove on 6th November, and Bradley will now have to wait until January 2010 to see if he has won.

Bradley, from Horsham, works at South Lodge in Lower Beeding while in the third year of an apprenticeship, undertaking an NVQ Level 3 at Central Sussex College. He was shocked to be nominated for the coveted title but feels he did his best in the cook-off.

Bradley said: "My dish turned out exactly how I wanted it to. The judges did comment that I was the only chef to cook fish and I was careful to source my ingredients locally, using food that is currently in season." Bradley's mouth-watering dish included pan-fried sea bass, seared scallops, crushed new potatoes, sautéed wild mushrooms, kale and curried pumpkin foam. The cook-off was judged by a panel chaired by Clive Beddall OBE, chairman of the Sussex Food and Drink Awards and the award is sponsored by Train to Gain.

Bradley's former employer Alex Owen, who owns the Cowdray Pub, said: "Bradley is a keen and hardworking chef."

Bradley, who is currently learning the art of patisserie, said: "I hope to do well but it will be a difficult one to call as the other chefs all produced fantastic food on the day." He will find out if he has won the Sussex Young Chef of the Year award at the Food and Drink Awards dinner at East Sussex National Golf Resort and Spa in Uckfield.