Sweet Taste of Success - The Baileys Euro-toques Young Chef of the Year 2009

23 year old James Devine from Dungannon, Co Tyrone has beaten four other finalists from across Ireland to win the title Baileys® Euro-Toques Young Chef for 2009, plus a cash prize of  €1,250 and a two week stage at renowned London restaurant Pied à Terre.  

‘Baileys® Euro-Toques Young Chef’ is one of the toughest and most prestigious culinary competitions to win. Entrants, who must be under 25 and show exceptional potential, are first nominated by a Euro-Toques member. They then submit their CV and a seasonal menu to the Euro-Toques Secretary General. An interview in front of an adjudication panel of professional chefs follows, after which the finalists are selected. The final stage is to cook against-the-clock in a culinary skills test under the scrutiny of a second panel of professional chefs. Finally, in advance of the announcement, they prepare a 5 course meal for specially invited guests hospitality industry and food media.

This year the grand finale was held on 6th April, at Ireland’s leading fine dining establishment, Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud in Dublin, where Peter O’Connor of competition sponsor, R&A Bailey & Co, addressed guests with his legendary combination of relaxed humour and thoughtfulness, urging everyone to share ideas on how we can help each other through this difficult time – and reflecting on the way in which the Baileys® Euro-Toques Young Chef of the Year competition (now in its 19th year) brings together the best professional chefs in the country with the next generation of top talent. “And we are delighted to be able to play a role in nurturing the rising stars of the Irish culinary world” he said.

Judges at this year’s skills test were Australian Chef Shane Osborn of Pied à Terre; Neven Maguire of MacNean House, Blacklion, Co Cavan  (a former Baileys® Young Chef winner); Lorcan Cribbin, of  Bang Café in Dublin; and Consultant Chef, Neil McFadden. The event and prizes are sponsored by R&A Bailey & Co in association with Gilbeys - both Diageo companies. Past winners of the competition include Gearoid Lynch (The Olde Post Inn) and head chefs Trevor Cunningham (Restaurant 23, Warrenpoint) and Padraig Hayden (The Still at Dylan Hotel).

The winner, James Devine, works at Deli on the Green, in Moygashel, Co Tyrone, where he assists his Euro-Toques mentor & Head Chef Bob McDonald.  After completing his A levels, James turned down the chance to study Law at university and travelled to North Carolina for his first taste of working in a professional kitchen at a Children’s Summer Camp. On returning home, he embarked on a Foundation Degree in Culinary Arts at Belfast Metropolitan College, which he successfully completed this year. His dream is to one day open a restaurant of his own in his hometown of Dungannon.

The other four finalists this year were 23 year old Patrick Powell (Knockranny House Hotel) ,who was also a finalist in 2007; 22 year old Luke Flinter (Waterford Castle Hotel); 22 year old Eric Matthews (L’Gueleton, Dublin); and 24 hear old Mark Treacy  (L’Ecrivain, Dublin), who is also a finalist in 2007. Commenting on the competition, Feargal O’Donnell, Commissioner-General, Euro-Toques (Irl.) noted ‘the great talent and passion for what they do’ showed by all finalists, and judge Shane Osborn (who is Australian but has strong Irish connections) said the Baileys® Young Chef is particularly beneficial because it emphasises the role of the mentor, which is essential to succeeding in the industry.