YOUNG KIRRIE CHEF SET FOR A TASTE OF THE BIG APPLE
A YOUNG chef from the Kirriemuir area will be heading for the States later this year - to fly the British flag in an international competition.
Twenty-year-old Thomas Helyer, last week, won the title of Great Britain's Young Commis Chef of the Year - under the scrutiny of a very high-profile panel of judges at Le Cordon Bleu in London.
Thomas, who works at the Kinnaird Hotel in Perthshire, excelled in his use of the "market basket" of basic ingredients which each of the five finalists faced.
Using these ingredients, plus a variety of staple ingredients from the pantry, contestants had three and a half hours to compose and execute a three-course menu for four covers.
The dishes were then judged on the taste, the presentation and the originality of the dishes presented.
Thomas amazed the panel of judges with the following fare:- breast of chicken with marinated fennel and asparagus spears; rack and loin of lamb with creamed leeks, caramelised apples and garden vegetables; and meringue nest with fresh berries.
Success in London means Thomas will now fly to New York in October to represent Great Britain at the international heat of the competition.
He will compete against other winners of national finals in countries across the globe to win the title of Chane des Rtisseurs International Young Commis Chef 2009.
Thomas, who will be 21 in the autumn, is, of course, the brother of Louise, who is featuring, once again, in our sporting section, as she continues her remarkable progress in modern pentathlon.
Arriving in the Kirriemuir area with the family at a very early age, he attended Northmuir Primary School and Webster's High School.
He got a taste for cooking as a career when he worked at nights at the Drover's Inn, Memus, and, on leaving school, he worked first at Kinloch House Hotel then at Ballathie House Hotel, Stanley, before taking up a post at Kinnaird Hotel, working under lead chef of the year John Baptiste.
Looking forward to representing the UK in New York, there was another thrill for Thomas when it was revealed that he has been invited down south to train with Michelin Star Restaurants for a week, prior to heading across the Atlantic for the competition.
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Weather for Forfar
Sunday 05 February 2012
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