Truro schoolgirl crowned as Cornish chefs chase South West title

One trophy already has a name on it. A 15-year-old from Truro has won the junior title, and next Tuesday she collects her prize in a room full of the region’s best cooks. Two Cornish kitchens will be waiting on results of their own that night.

📷Hesali Galuge, 15, from Penair Secondary School, Truro, South West Junior Chef of the Year 2026

A junior title for Truro

Hesali Galuge, 15, from Penair Secondary School in Truro, beat five other young finalists to become South West Junior Chef of the Year. The junior final was held on 10 October.

Hesali will be presented with her prize at the awards ceremony on Tuesday 27 October.

📷South West Chef of the Year judges, including head judge Michael Caines MBE DL (second right), tasting competition dishes

Finals day in Exeter

The finals of the South West Chef of the Year competition take place at Exeter College next Tuesday (27 October). The competition was founded by chef Michael Caines MBE DL.

The day ends with an awards dinner at Exeter Golf and Country Club that evening. Winners will be announced in five categories: professional, young professional, student/apprentice, home cook and junior chef.

Michael, who co-founded the competition, said: “We have seen some fabulous cooking from our competitors to get to the finals of the competition. In fact, for the first time we have five finalists rather than four in two of our categories, as the standard was so high, the judges agreed it was impossible to choose just four.”

The Cornish chefs in the running

Two Cornwall-based chefs are among the five finalists in the Professional Chef category. Tom Bennetts is Head Chef at Driftwood Spars in St Agnes. Harrison Holmes is Senior Sous Chef at The Idle Rocks in St Mawes.

Professional Chef

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• Jordan Bartholomew, Head Chef, Stoke Lodge Hotel, Stoke Fleming, Devon
• Tom Bennetts, Head Chef, Driftwood Spars, St Agnes, Cornwall
• Will Bradridge, Pastry Chef, Gidleigh Park, Gidleigh, Devon
• Harrison Holmes, Senior Sous Chef, The Idle Rocks, St Mawes, Cornwall
• Samuel Loader, Pastry Chef, Lucknam Park, Bath

Young Professional Chef

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• Jacob Ashburton-Dunning, Chef de Partie, Gidleigh Park, Gidleigh, Devon
• Charlie Bowie, Commis Chef, The Barbican Kitchen, Plymouth, Devon
• Ben Greenhalf, Chef de Partie, Gather, Totnes, Devon
• Bethany Martin, Junior Sous Chef, Lucknam Park, Bath
• Finlay Maxworthy, Demi Chef de Partie, The Royal Crescent Hotel, Bath

Student/Apprentice Chef

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• Josh Goodman, Exeter College
• Isaac Harris, Weston College and Thatcher’s Railway Inn, Sandford, Somerset
• Luca Jokonya, Exeter College and The Mill on the Exe, Exeter, Devon
• Madison Williams, South Devon College and Stoke Lodge Hotel, Stoke Fleming, Devon

Home Cook

• Oscar Egbulam, Bristol
• Stephanie Jeffries, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
• Monika Middleton, Exmouth, Devon
• Dave Morgan, Bristol
• Riley Pearce, Drybrook, Gloucestershire
• Susan Richards, Sturminster Newton, Dorset

A dinner cooked by past winners

Michael will host the evening. Guests arrive to a drinks reception, followed by a four-course menu made with seasonal South West produce, showcasing the region’s food and drink. Every chef behind it is a judge, a previous winner, or both:

• Tim Kendall, The Idle Rocks, Cornwall. South West Chef of the Year 2018, Young Professional Chef of the Year 2016 and competition judge.
• Harrison Brockington, Gather, Totnes. South West Chef of the Year 2024, Student/Apprentice Chef of the Year 2016 and competition judge.
• Adam Gerrish, The Apple Tree Inn, West Pennard, Glastonbury. South West Chef of the Year 2004.
• Hywel Jones, Executive Chef, Lucknam Park, Bath. Competition judge.
• Michael Caines MBE DL, head judge.

Students from the Michael Caines Academy will help serve the dinner.

Tickets for the awards ceremony can be booked through the competition website.

📷Hesali Galuge cooking at the South West Junior Chef of the Year final