'A great way to test yourself' - Northumberland chef looks forward to Roux Scholarship semi final

A Northumberland chef has reached the semi final of a prestigious competition as he bids to be named as one of the best young chefs in the country.

Liam Smith is the only North East representative in the semi finals of the Roux Scholarship competition and he will be a part of the regional final stage in Birmingham on Thursday, March 7.

As part of the semi final, he will face off against other chefs from as far afield as Scotland, Cornwall and Lancashire, where he will cook for the judges and tackle a "mystery box dessert".

Liam, who works at Restaurant Pine, has told NewcastleWorld about his reasons are applying for the Roux Scholarship and what it would mean for him to win the entire thing.

He said: "I applied to the Roux Scholarship because it’s been a goal of mine for a long time to be a part of the competition.

"I think it’s a great way to test yourself and meet some great people in the industry.

"For my dish to get to the semi final, I had to use pork, sweet potatoes and kidneys. 

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"I made a dish of BBQ pork, kidney and pork chou farci, along with a sweet potato beignet filled with black pudding and fennel.

"It would be an amazing achievement to win, I would be extremely proud.

"Either way though, I think it’s a great way to learn, test yourself, and meet other young chefs working at the highest level."

The Roux Scholarship was set up by Michel Roux OBE, and his brother Albert, in 1984 as a way of giving a new generation of chefs the chance to train in the world's greatest restaurants.

Six winners from the two regional finals will be selected to go through to the national final, which takes place the Westminster Kingsway College, in London, on Monday, April 8.