A TALENTED chef has battled against some of the finest rising stars in the North East to be crowned one of the winners of the Great North Menu Challenge 2018.
Louise Harbottle from Rockliffe Hall, near Darlington, impressed the judges to win the main course category with her roast lamb, lamb shoulder croquette, rosemary gnocchi and broccoli puree.
The annual competition is organised by the North East Hotels Association (NEHA), the membership body which represents hoteliers across the region.
The winning chef, who has worked at Rockliffe Hall for eight years, said: “I spent just over a week designing the dish and I’m absolutely thrilled it went according to plan.
"It will be an honour to have my entry showcased at the Excellence Awards next month. Taking part in the challenge was nerve wracking at times but it was also a great learning experience.”
Lead judge David Kennedy praised the quality of all the chefs, he said: "The competition challenged all the finalists to demonstrate skill and execution with their dishes which can be testing in an unfamiliar environment."
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