A talented young chef from Llandybie has won the Junior Chef of Wales competition.

Apart from the kudos of being named best in Wales, Steffan Davies, 22, now goes through automatically to the Young National Chef of the Year semi-final organised by The Master Chefs of Great Britain.

He and three other chefs competed in the Junior Chef of Wales final at the Welsh International Culinary Championships (WICC) and had to wait until last week to hear the result announced at an awards dinner held at Llandudno Bay Hotel, Llandudno.

Both Steffan and fellow finalist Harry Paynter-Roberts were members of the junior Culinary Team Wales which excelled in winning two silver medals at the Culinary Olympics last October. They both competed for Wales at the Battle for the Dragon contest at the WICC on Tuesday.

“It was a long time to wait for the result and the more I thought about it, the more I thought I didn’t win because the standard of the competition was really high,” Steffan said.

“Most of the dishes went to plan and everything went out the way I wanted.

“The dishes produced by the other chefs looked awesome and this competition is a great promotion for Welsh produce.

“To end a long year after competing with the Junior Culinary Team at the Olympics and the Battle for the Dragon is unbelievable. I’m so proud to be representing my country and going on the Young National Chef of the Year.”

Steffan’s winning menu opened with a starter of pan friend scallop, soy and truffle, cauliflower and sorrel cream.

Main course was Welsh Beef fillet, shallot, celeriac, bone marrow crumb and Madeira. Dessert was toffee pudding cake, caramel poached apple, walnut toffee, chutney and Halen Mon.

The quartet spent three hours in the kitchen at Coleg Llandrillo, Rhos-on-Sea under the supervision of an experienced panel of judges, which comprised Colin Gray, Shaun Hill, Stuart McLoed, Danny Burke and Nick Davies.

Mr Gray commended all four junior chefs and said the judges had a difficult task.

He said: “The taste and flavour of the dishes was something that you can be proud of.

“These chefs are the future of our industry.

In addition to winning the coveted title, Steffan also received a set of F. Dick Knives and will also spend a week’s work experience with head chef Simon Radley at The Chester Grosvenor, Chester.