Will Wes win the North West Chef of the Year final

October 1st 2006

Wesley Duggan, junior sous chef at the Macdonald Craxton Wood Hotel in Ledsham near Chester, and this year's Cheshire Young Chef of the Year, is preparing for his part in the cook-off for North West Young Chef of the Year final. The event takes place on September 28 at Lancaster Morcombe College. Five young cooks, representing Cheshire, Merseyside, Manchester, Cumbria and Lancashire, will spend two hours over a hot stove to decide who is the best.

Wes, as he is known to his friends, is no stranger to success. He holds the Chester Young Chef of the Year title for 2005 and won the Cheshire Young Chef of the Year title in June 2006 which secured his place in the competition. Each chef is allowed just two and a half hours, with a £20 budget for ingredients that are only local and seasonal, to prepare the perfect three-course meal for two. His winning meal in June started with Morcombe Bay shrimp and Cheshire potato cup dressed with tomato caramel, followed by succulent Cheshire lamb wrapped in rosemary and rösti potato, broad bean cassoulet flavoured with Weetwood ale from Tarpley village. The pudding was Cheshire apple meringue pot accompanied by cider cream shooter.

Wes has been in the Macdonald Craxton Wood Hotel kitchen brigade for three years but claims it was only this past year and a half, since the arrival of Nick Walton the head chef, that he has really developed his culinary talent. 'Nick is a great motivator,' says Wes: 'and has pushed me to new heights I would never have believed of myself. I'm especially proud to have been beaten many of Cheshire's top chefs, even one who comes from a Michelin star-rated kitchen.'

Macdonald Craxton Wood Hotel offers a one-day pass inclusive of lunch in the

Garden Conservatory for £25

The Macdonald Craxton Wood Hotel in Ledsham near Chester is offering a day pass to the Leisure Club inclusive of lunch, prepared by their award-winning kitchen team, in the Garden Conservatory for £25 per person to coincide with the start of British Food Fortnight. For an overnight stay inclusive of dinner and breakfast, the price is £160 per room based on two sharing and subject to availability. Prices are valid throughout October and November. Call 0844 879 9000 (www.macdonald-hotels.co.uk).

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