Cumbria's UK Seafood champions....

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 23:00:00 GMT

A huge congratulations to chefs Matt Campbell and Martin Frickel, now the UK's Seafood champions.

After making it through the Northern heats, they beat off stiff competition from seven other UK colleges to win the final which was held at the Grimsby Institute of Further and Higher Education this Monday.

Eight teams competed for what is regarded as the top student chef award. An award truly worth winning. Apart from the £1000 prize money, the winning chefs will each get a weeks placement at one of Mitchell Tonks top London fish restaurants.

Mitchell Tonks, was voted Tatler’s restauranteur of the year, and labeled by The Independent as 'a fishmonger for the 21st Century' and he has been driven by an honest passion to enthuse, cook for and inspire others to enjoy seafood. He said that "The standard of cooking has been brilliant. The simple dishes reflect the trends in food; it's about letting good quality ingredients be the star of the show. Kendal College's starter of cod with bacon crumbs, pea puree and quails eggs stands out. It was phenomenal and perfectly cooked."

Matt and Martin both from Kendal college, work together under the guidance of Justin Woods at the Castle Green Hotel in Kendal. It was their dinner selection of baked encrusted cod, followed by Alaskan pollack chowder and a main course of poached halibut in red wine, which won over the judges, who included Grimsby MP Austin Mitchell, top seafood chef Mitchell Tonks from the Fishworks restaurant chain and Steve Norton, chief executive of the Grimsby Fish Merchants' Association.

Alaskan pollock chowder

Poached hallibut in red wine

I'm chuffed for the two of them, they both are dedicated, work hard at College and Castle Green. They have every right to be really proud of their performance.

Martin

Martins thoughts...

Cumbria's UK Seafood champions....