A Haslingden chef, who owns a restaurant in his home town, is in the running to be named best chef in the nation.
Steven Halligan, who owns Restaurant Metamorphica restaurant in Charles Lane, has reached the semi-finals of the Craft Guild’s National Chef of the Year award.
This award has been given to renowned chefs in the past, including celebrity chef and Hell’s Kitchen star Gordon Ramsay.
Steven, who opened Metamorphica in May 2022, is one of 40 chefs shortlisted for this next stage of competition and bid to win the culinary title.
To get to this stage of the competition, he had to create a three-course menu.
The brief was to focus on food waste and the creative use of ingredients as the UK and rest of the world grapple with the cost-of-living crisis.
Competition judges were keen to see how culinary skills, along with sustainable, local and global produce, were used to demonstrate an excellent understanding of ingredients.
The starter could be a fish, seafood or vegetarian dish with a focus on zero waste.
Chefs were asked to create a delicious lamb dish using two cuts of lamb and making use of ingredients, techniques and cooking styles that bring the very best from this main ingredient.
For the final dish competitors were required to produce a warm or cold dessert of chocolate with a savoury twist.
To make it to the final 10, Steven must create an vegan signature dish suitable as an amuse bouche or small first course using one ingredient.
Steven said: “It’s really important to take part in competitive cookery.
“I have been involved in many competitions since the start of my cooking career, which began in 2012 and I really enjoy the fun involved in competing under time constraints.
“I’m hoping to make it to the next stage of the competition with my signature dish, to be named amongst an elite group of 10 from the already hugely talented 40 semi-finalists would be a great achievement.
“I hope that by competing on a national level, we can promote good food in Rossendale and encourage more quality independent restaurants and bars to choose the less conventional towns of Haslingden and Rawtenstall as a viable market for high quality products and services.”
Competition director, David Mulcahy who is food innovation and sustainability director at Sodexo UK and Ireland said: “It’s been fantastic to see chefs from such a wide variety of culinary backgrounds enter this year and we’ve seen entrants from some of the most talked about establishments in the UK.
“The entries reflect how important this competition is for shining a spotlight on the most up and coming talent.
“If you’ve been given a shot at the title this year, then really go for it as we’ve already seen the incredible opportunities that winning has given our current title holder, Ben Murphy.
“It could literally change your life. If you’ve missed out, then please come back next year as it really was extremely close this year.”
The winner of this year’s competition will not only receive the most sought-after chef title in the UK, but they will take home a host of impressive prizes including culinary experiences, equipment and trips of a lifetime.
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