21 Apr Benfleet Chef Awarded Runner Up in Young Risotto Chef of the Year Competition
Nathan Cooper, aged 22 from Benfleet, Essex, has been named as the runner up in the Riso Gallo UK & Ireland Young Risotto Chef of the Year 2023.
Nathan wowed the judges with his Risotto of Squid and Seaweed with Steamed Mussels ad Seaweed Vinegar.
Nathan said; “It was an amazing experience for me as a young chef to be in such a good competition. It made it a challenge to be out of my comfort zone and a good learning experience”.
Nathan won work experience at the Italian Embassy in London and also at the new Claude Bosi restaurant at the Peninsula hotel.
Jason Morrison, MD Riso Gallo UK, said; “We at Riso Gallo are proud to support our young British chefs, with work experience opportunities. Their kitchen abilities have been seen and tasted by those that they are going to work with. The British hospitality industry has some truly amazing talent!”.
Nathan competed against twelve young chefs in the Grand Final at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on the 3rd April 2023. This year, the award was presented by Ambassador Lambertini, from the Italian Embassy in London.
The dishes were judged by professional chefs at the top of their game. The final judging panel was led by Consultant Chef Paul Gayler MBE, along with Danilo Cortellini, Consultant Chef at The Italian Embassy; Adriano Cavagnini, Executive Chef at the Bvlgari Hotel; Fabio Pisani (patron with Chef Alessandro Negrini) from Il Luogo Aimo e Nadia in Milan; Davide Degiovanni Head Chef at 5 Hertford St and Francesco Dibenedetto, Head Chef at Bibendum in London.
In such a close competition, the judges awarded two runners up places – Lee McDonagh took the other.
Riso Gallo, the first international brand in the sector to have produced rice from sustainable agriculture, is supplying Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with its range of sustainable rices for use in their catering facilities. We are thankful to Mark Reynolds, Regional Executive Chef for Compass UK and Vice Chair of the Craft Guild of Chefs, and his team for their partnership, and providing food on the day.
Tottenham Hotspur was named the Premier League’s greenest club following a study carried out by the UN-backed Sport Positive Summit, with a range of sustainable measures implemented across their operations.
Jason Morrison, MD Riso Gallo UK commented; “For over 165 years, Riso Gallo has supplied many of the top chefs across the world with Italian rice of the highest quality. We understand their passion and commitment to their craft, and the years of training they undertake. We launched this competition to help foster and reward the next generation, who can inject personality, passion and creativity into their own vibrant, exciting risotto dish. Our UK & Ireland Young Risotto Chef of the Year has grown year on year.”
It is the sixth year of the competition, aimed at young chefs aged 17-23 years, who are either in education or starting out in their professional careers.
The Riso Gallo UK & Ireland Young Risotto Chef of the Year Competition is supported by Essential Cuisine, Filippo Berio, Koppert Cress, Craft Guild of Chefs, Masterchefs GB, and Chef & Restaurant Magazine.
