Anglesey Chef wins International Escoffier Challenge

14th March 2012

Welsh Chef Dion Jones has won the International Escoffier Challenge Grand Final, held in the south of France, beating rivals from around the globe to take the title.

The award is one of the most coveted in the world of cooking and Dion, 24, is the first British chef to take the top prize. After his victory he put his victory down to his mother Ann Owen saying "My mum was the inspiration, she was a professional chef and I learnt a lot from her. She had to retire early when she was in her 40s because she developed arthritis at an early age."

Dion is the senior chef de partie at Carden Park Country Hotel near Chester, as well as a member of the Welsh National Culinary Team.

In the kitchen Dion served up a platter for eight judges which included a compulsory dish of roasted shoulder of lamb provencale with stuffed artichokes. In addition, he cooked a pressed terrine of vegetables with a fennel biscuit and poached lamb fillet with lamb consomme.

Speaking of the final judging he said: "I never expected to win after seeing the platters of other chefs. At the presentation I was stood there and could not understand what was being said as it was in French. Then a judge went past and said in English, 'You have won'. I could not believe it, it was very emotional."

Source: Daily Post