Talented young Great Yarmouth chef Daniel Marshall faces an Olympic-style challenge in the kitchen as he represents Great Britain in a culinary contest against rivals from around the world.
Having been voted best young chef in the country, the 21-year-old will take on more than 20 other fledging contestants in Berlin tomorrow for the title of International Young Chef of the Year.
It’s the 36th international final of the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs’ Young Chef contest, one of the most prestigious in the business.
Daniel, a chef de partie at the Imperial Hotel, was thrilled to win the national title and has no qualms about taking on some of the world’s top young chefs from as far afield as Australia, Italy, Japan, Indonesia, Israel, the USA and Russia.
“We have to create a three-course menu for four people out of a ‘mystery box’ of ingredients in three-and-a-half hours,” he said. “I’m fairly confident about the taste and presentation of my food but I mainly worry about getting the menu right. We have only half an hour to plan it and you know the meal must eventually be perfect and on time.
“It will be a wonderful experience as we are visiting restaurants and food markets around Berlin and later I have a month working alongside 2 Michelin star chef Nils Henkel in Germany.”
Daniel’s success in the GB final has already brought him the prize of two days cooking with Anton Mosimann in London and six days with the Red Carnation boutique hotel group.
But he still loves going back to work at the Imperial in Great Yarmouth – close to his home in St Peters Road – and learning from the award-winning chefs there. And his head won’t be turned however he fares in the international final.
“You have to be ambitious and I have various ideas for the future but I have a lot to learn yet,” said the former Great Yarmouth College student.
Imperial Hotel director Nicholas Mobbs said: “Daniel has tremendous ability and enthusiasm and deserves to do well. It would be like another Gold Medal for GB and Norfolk if he succeeds.”
