Melksham chef in ‘Chef vs Chef’ competition

TWO local chefs swept the board to the top places in the recent Chef vs Chef competition in Bath at the college on  Thursday 6th February. 

One of these chefs is Alex Brownrigg from Melksham, who applies his trade at the Homewood Park & Spa Hotel near Freshford, which is part of the Longleat group as a Chef de Partie, and he has previously worked at the Kings Arms in Melksham as well as Neston Park.

Alex, who attended Melksham Oak school before embarking on a catering course at Trowbridge College, had to present a two course menu for the judges to view, before being invited as one of the final nine in the under 23 category to cook and present his menu, which consisted of pan seared breast of poussin with sweet potatoes and shallots, followed by a white chocolate mousse with roasted almonds and griottine cherries.

The judges for the event included celebrity chef Martin Blunos.

By winning his class Alex not only won a prize of £250 he also will attend Cliveden, a prestigious hotel in Taplow, Berkshire for a week’s residential work experience under the guidance of resident Michelin Star Chef Andre Garrett. The winner of the over 23 category was won by another local chef Martin Blake from Trowbridge, who works alongside Alex as the sous chef  at Homewood Park.