A TALENTED Glasgow chef has reached the semi-finals of Britain’s most prestigious culinary competition, with sights set on the final.

Gary Townsend, head chef at luxury hotel One Devonshire Gardens, will compete in the semi-finals of the National Chef of the Year (NCOTY) competition after impressing Michelin-starred chef Paul Ainsworth with a stunning three course menu.

The unique pandemic-inspired menu included a vegetarian starter incorporating ingredients on the KNORR Future 50 Foods list, while the main course focused on supporting British suppliers on land and sea with a dish including both meat and fish.

His dessert reflected the start of the pandemic when ingredients were sparse and his family found comfort in baking.

Glasgow Times:

Gary said: “Thinking through life experiences and using food to recreate memories and stories for the developments of the NCOTY dishes has reignited a real passion in me, I’ve had fun working on the concepts which are bold and creative.

“I’m delighted and super excited to make it through to the semis – I’ve everything crossed for a place in the finals.”

To get to the final, Gary has been creating a signature dish that will sum up his experience of the pandemic in just two to three bites, with judges looking for something that reflects personality and tells a story.

He is currently one of 33 chefs still in the running to take the sought-after title with the top ten set to be revealed on the Craft Guild of Chefs Instagram channel on August 12.

Previous winners of the competition since it launched in 1972 include chef and television personality Gordon Ramsay.