Chef Shine

Chef Shine is a showcase for the best chefs in Wirral. During the summer months nominated chefs create a set menu using locally produced ingredients and hold a special 'Chef Shine' evening in their restaurants. Details of the 2010 Chef Shine will be posted later this year.

The public are asked to attend and vote on the quality, presentation, originality and use of ingredients of the meal. The highest scoring chef is presented with the much-coveted Chef of the Year award at the annual Tourism Awards for Excellence Gala Dinner. 

Chef Shine is promoted in partnership with the Wirral News. 

Results of Chef Shine 2009

The winner of Chef Shine 2009 was EMMA WOMBWELL of the Cowshed Restaurant, The Wheatsheaf Inn, Raby. The 25-year old Chef also won the Award in 2008! She beat off competition from Adam Bowers of the Portrait House, Kevin Parry of La Paz, Matthew Dougherty from Sheldrakes, Chris Barbakis from Paesano at the Leverhulme Hotel and Julian Davies of Julian's.

Emma is originally from Neston, but moved to Plymouth to attend catering college, after working as a chef in La Rochelle and Plymouth she returned to Wirral in January 2007, and was promoted to Head Chef at the Wheatsheaf Inn in October 2008.

Emma's winning menu included pan-roasted sea trout on a bed of samphire & Claremont Farm asparagus, followed by Ness lamb cutlets with an offal faggot, served on a bed of spring vegetable bubble & squeak accompanied by a rhubarb and peppermint jelly. Her dessert was A Taste Around Rhubarb - three miniature British desserts with a rhubarb twist.

Kevin Parry from La Paz was given a special certificate for coming in second place, with Wirral News readers scoring him just half a mark behind Emma.

The other Food and Hospitality Awards were:

MOST PROFESSIONAL WAITING-ON TEAM
The Portrait House

MOST HELPFUL RETAIL/VISITOR ASSISTANT
Ceri Newton, Gorge'us Tea Rooms

THE UNSEEN HERO
Sarah Lynch, Lady Lever Art Gallery

MOST PROFESSIONAL BAR TEAM
Tides

MOST OUTSTANDING YOUNG PERSON OF THE YEAR
Jenny Lemon, Ness Gardens

FAMILY FRIENDLY TEAM
Church Farm, Thurstaston

TOURISM/HERITAGE VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
Eleanor Lyons, Port Sunlight Museum

TEAM OF THE YEAR
Inglewood Manor Kitchen

WIRRAL TOURISM AMBASSADOR AWARD
Lionel Bolland, Port Sunlight Village Trust

SPECIAL AWARD
Paul Chatten, Wirral Met College